Pakistan’s pace ace Shaheen Shah Afridi isn’t just making headlines with the ball — his fearless batting in the ongoing Asia Cup has turned heads, including those of his Indian rivals. India’s left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav admitted he couldn’t help but admire Afridi’s explosive hitting.
It all started during the high-voltage Pakistan-India clash. With Pakistan reeling at 83 for 7, Afridi walked in and played a blistering cameo, smashing 33 runs off just 16 balls. His knock included four towering sixes that shifted the momentum and gave fans something to cheer about despite Pakistan’s shaky batting display.
Afridi didn’t stop there. In the following match against the UAE, he once again showcased his batting flair — this time blasting 29 runs off 14 deliveries, laced with three boundaries and two sixes. Though Pakistan faced tense moments, his innings injected much-needed energy and kept their hopes alive.
Kuldeep Yadav, speaking to reporters, openly praised Afridi’s batting intent. “He’s striking the ball really well. As a bowler, you try to read the batsman, but sometimes the kind of shots he played are tough to stop,” Yadav admitted, adding that Shaheen has brought an extra dimension to Pakistan’s lower order.
Afridi, already hailed as one of the most dangerous fast bowlers in the world, is suddenly being talked about as a handy lower-order hitter. For Pakistan, that’s a welcome bonus in crunch games where every run counts. And for fans, it’s just another reason why Shaheen remains one of the most exciting players to watch in modern cricket.
