Left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi made history after becoming only the third Pakistan captain to take a wicket on the first ball of a One-Day International (ODI).
Shaheen achieved the feat during Pakistan’s second ODI against Australia at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. He bowled Alex Carey on the first delivery of Australia’s innings with a full and wide delivery, placing himself in a rare list alongside former Pakistan captains Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.
Wasim Akram was the first Pakistan captain to take a wicket on the opening ball of an ODI when he dismissed Zimbabwe’s Andy Flower in Karachi in 1993. Waqar Younis followed in 2001 when he removed England’s Marcus Trescothick in Leeds.
Pakistan captains to take a wicket on the first delivery of an ODI:
After removing Carey, Shaheen struck again in the 47th over when he bowled Matthew Kuhnemann. He claimed his third wicket in the 49th over by dismissing lower-order batter Nathan Ellis, finishing with economical figures of 3/36 in eight overs.
Shaheen’s performance was supported by Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed and Arafat Minhas as Pakistan restricted Australia to 231/9 in their 50 overs.
However, when this story was filed, Pakistan were in trouble at 74/5 in 16 overs, still needing 157 runs from 34 overs.
Pakistan lead the three-match home series 1-0 after securing a hard-fought five-wicket win in the opening ODI in Rawalpindi last week.
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