Wasim Akram Lauds Shaheen Afridi’s Exceptional Bowling

Former Pakistani pace legend Wasim Akram showered accolades on left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Afridi for his remarkable delivery during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10 final between Lahore Qalandars and Quetta Gladiators at Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.

Akram, who was providing commentary, expressed his admiration for Shaheen’s bowling prowess.

“Delivering such a ball is incredibly challenging, particularly for a left-arm seamer. If it comes naturally, it indicates Shaheen’s dedicated practice,” he stated.

Shaheen delivered a stunning inswinging ball in the match’s opening over. The delivery not only captivated the audience but also perplexed Gladiators captain Saud Shakeel, narrowly missing the stumps and almost resulting in an early dismissal.

Soon after, the breakthrough occurred. Saud Shakeel, having chosen to bat first after winning the toss, was dismissed by Shaheen Afridi for a mere 4 runs off 6 balls, leaving the Gladiators at 17-1 after 2.4 overs.

The subsequent over witnessed another setback for Quetta, as Salman Mirza dismissed Finn Allen for 12 runs off 11 balls, reducing their score to 25-2.

However, Rilee Rossouw and Hassan Nawaz stabilized the innings, forging a crucial 38-run partnership for the third wicket. Their collaboration aided in rebuilding the innings and establishing a foundation for a competitive total.

This momentum was disrupted by the returning Sikandar Raza, who made an impact in his first over. Raza dismissed Rossouw for a rapid 22 runs off just 11 balls, leaving Quetta at 58-3 in 6.2 overs.

At the time of this report, Quetta Gladiators stood at 15-3 in 12 overs, with Hassan Nawaz having achieved a well-deserved half-century.

Avishka Fernando also contributed valuable runs, as the Gladiators aimed to set a challenging total in the final.

Quetta Gladiators Squad:

Saud Shakeel (c), Avishka Fernando, Faheem Ashraf, Finn Allen, Mohammad Amir, Abrar Ahmed, Rilee Rossouw, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Dinesh Chandimal, Khurram Shahzad, Hasebullah Khan, Gulbadin Naib, Khawaja Nafay, Usman Tariq, Hassan Nawaz (E), Muhammad Zeeshan (E), Ali Majid, Shoaib Malik, Danish Aziz.