Pakistan’s finest pacer, Shaheen Shah Afridi, on Friday, created a new history by becoming the highest wicket-taker after 65 ODIs, surpassing Rashid Khan’s mark of 128 wickets over the same number of matches.
With Shaheen clinching four wickets for 51, Pakistan defeated the West Indies in the first ODI in Trinidad in 48.5 overs with 5 wickets to spare.
Afridi, with this feat, inked his name to join Pakistan legend Wasim Akram in an exclusive list of visiting left-arm pacers to claim four or more wickets in an ODI innings in the West Indies.
Earlier in 1993, Akram had clinched 4 for 18 in Kingstown in 1993. Afridi is now the seventh bowler to achieve the feat to take four wickets in West Indies. Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc from Australia stand alone as the only left-arm quicks to take five-wicket hauls in ODIs on Caribbean soil, as per Cricinfo data.
While Wisden data says Shaheen’s strike rate now stands at 25.4, which has surpassed India’s Mohammed Shami’s 25.8. Shaheen will need to exceed Starc’s record of 133 wickets to surpass the 67-match mark.
Shaheen Shah Afridi stats:
As per CricInfo, Shaheen has played 31 Tests and picked up 116 scalps at an economy of 3.14. His best is 6/51. He has taken 12 4-fers and fifers.
In 65 ODIs, Afridi has taken 131 wickets, his best being 6/35. In 81 T20Is, he took 104 wickets at 7.88 economy.
WI vs Pak 1st ODI:
After winning the toss, Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan opted to field first. They restricted the West Indies at 280, all thanks to Shaheen’s four wickets and Naseem Shah’s three wickets. Also, Saim Ayub, Sufiyan Muqeem and Salman Agha clinched one wicket each.
Chasing 281, Pakistan won the match in 48.5 overs after losing five wickets.
The second match in the ODI series is scheduled for Sunday, and the third and final on Tuesday, also at Brian Lara Stadium.