Ahead of the 15th Big Bash League (BBL) season, Pakistan’s pace leader Shaheen Shah Afridi has shown his excitement about getting rid of great batsmen like David Warner, Steve Smith, and Babar Azam.
The 25-year-old left-arm bowler was asked in a recent podcast interview which of the three wickets he would value most. Afridi said that he would not single out any batter.
“It’s all three for me,” he smiled in response. I wouldn’t choose just one since they are all vital wickets. I would want to fire each of them because they are important members of their teams.
Shaheen, who will play for the Brisbane Heat next season, expressed his satisfaction with the growing number of Pakistani athletes in the Australian franchise league.
“I’m really looking forward to playing against six or seven Pakistani players that are participating in the Big Bash this year,” he stated. “These guys—Babar, Rizwan, and Shadab—are well-known and have played for Pakistan for a long time. We just played together in the PSL.” It’s a hard task.
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He went on to say that fans, especially the Pakistani diaspora in Australia, will be even more excited by the appearance of such sportsmen. Every time we play Babar, Rizwan, and other players, I believe the crowd—especially the Pakistani supporters—will have a great time. We’re hoping to perform well in front of a large audience.
Afridi, who is well-known for his explosive opening bursts and unique wicket celebrations, expressed his optimism about making early breakthroughs in the competition.
“If I get a wicket in the first over again, it will be even more special,” he remarked. “I’ll give the celebration everything I’ve got, and it will feel fantastic with the crowd’s support.”
According to Afridi, a player’s performance can be significantly improved by crowd involvement. “When I reach the peak of my run-up, I’ll be even happier if Australian and Pakistani supporters applaud and shout ‘Afridi.” That will give me a huge boost, and I believe I’ll love it even more.
The former captain of the Pakistan T20I team also praised Babar Azam, calling him one of the most reliable hitters in cricket.
He is a world-renowned performer, as you are aware. He is well-liked by the public and performs well on major international platforms, Shaheen remarked. He is, in my opinion, the only batter who scores runs on a regular basis, and we all count on him to continue playing with the same efficiency. He is well-known in the cricket community.
The fast bowler, who will be playing in his first league season, stated his goal to win the BBL trophy with the Brisbane Heat.
“Winning one more trophy will be incredible.” It would add even more specialness to my first season,” he remarked. “We won three trophies in the PSL, and it all comes down to the players and how management provides you with the leeway to enjoy your cricket.”
