Pakistan ODI captain Shaheen Afridi achieved a significant milestone during the second fixture of the ODI tri-series against England at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday, as he completed 150 wickets in the 50-over format. Shaheen has become the quickest Pakistan fast bowler to scalp 150 wickets in the format, breaking the joint record held by greats Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar. The 26-year-old achieved the milestone in his 80th ODI, while Younis and Akhtar had reached 150 wickets in 91 matches each.
Coming into the second match of the tri-series against England, Shaheen needed just one wicket to reach the mark, and he got there after dismissing in-form opener Tom Banton in the first over. Banton, who had hit four consecutive fifty-plus scores in his last four innings, chipped a full-length delivery to cover, where Arafat held on to a simple catch.
Overall, Shaheen is the joint fourth-fastest player in the world to reach 150 wickets. Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane remains the quickest to the mark, having reached 150 wickets in 73 ODIs, while Mitchell Starc (77) and Mushtaq are second and third, respectively. Coming to the match, the Pakistan captain followed his milestone wicket with another scalp when he had England talisman Joe Root caught at backward point. The game holds special significance for Pakistan, as the players are wearing pink jerseys as part of an initiative to raise breast cancer awareness. The tri-series has moved to Lahore from Rawalpindi, and the hosts are eyeing a place in the final after winning both their matches so far in the tournament, first against Sri Lanka and then against England. Pakistan made two changes to its playing XI, with Shadab Khan returning and Razaullah making his ODI debut. Faheem Ashraf and Naseem Shah missed out, with the latter dislocating a finger during the warm-up, captain Shaheen stated at the toss after opting to bowl.
