Aakash Chopra clarifies why he picked Shahid Afridi as the best T20 all-rounder of the decade

Shahid Afridi has always been an enigmatic character both on and off the field. The former Pakistani all-rounder called time on an illustrious international career in 2018 after making his debut way back in 1996. He had made an immediate impact, scoring the then fastest century in just 37 balls against Sri Lanka in only his second one-day international.

Since then, he became one of the best all-rounders of the game, playing more than 500 international games for Pakistan. However, his biggest impact came as a leg-spinner and his game suited the T20 format perfectly as his power-hitting batting style and amazing knack of reading the game came in handy for the various franchises he plays even to this day. His contribution to T20Is, led to former India opener Aakash Chopra calling him the best all-rounder of the format of the decade 2010-2019.

Afridi Chopra defends calling Shahid Afridi the best T20I all-rounder of the decade

As the decade came to an end, Aakash Chopra took to Twitter and shared his best XIs in all the three formats and also gave away awards to players in the three formats for the best batsman, bowler, all-rounder, and wicketkeeper. For the T20I awards of the decade 2010-2019, he called Virat Kohli the best batsman, Lasith Malinga the best bowler, Jos Buttler the best wicket-keeper and Shahid Afridi the best all-rounder.

#AakashVani Awards for the best in T20i in 2010s (decade)

Batsman— Kohli
Bowler— Malinga
All-Rounder—Afridi
Wicketkeeper—Buttler

What’s yours? ☺️

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 1, 2020

However, a fan called him out for his choice of Afridi and said that he wanted to impress his Pakistani fans by doing so. The fan felt that there were better options to choose from than Afridi. He tweeted, “Explain us why u choose afridi….for impressing Pakistani fans?”

Explain us why u choose afridi….for impressing Pakistani fans?

— Subash reddy (@Subashr888) January 4, 2020

To this Chopra defended his choice and asked the fan to check Afridi’s numbers and replied,” You obviously didn’t have a look at his T20 International record in the 2010s. The decade. Do yourself a favour and check. Thank me later ☺️🤗”

You obviously didn’t have a look at his T20 International record in 2010s. The decade. Do yourself a favour and check. Thank me later ☺️🤗 https://t.co/6T2hL9Zsp4

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 4, 2020

Shahid Afridi played 73 T20I matches from 2010-2018 and scored 949 runs at a strike rate of 151.59 with one half-century and picked 61 wickets at an economy of 6.96 with the best bowling figures of 4/14. Afridi still plays for various T20 franchises all over the world and doesn’t seem in a hurry to call time on his cricketing career anytime soon.

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