'My brother likes the format' - Shaheen Afridi reveals reason behind his love for Test cricket

Shaheen Afridi is arguably Pakistan’s best pacer in the modern-day game and has lived up to the expectations. The pace spearhead, on several occasions, has provided early breakthroughs with the new ball in hand. In fact, Afridi is the youngest bowler to register a six-wicket haul in World Cup history. He had achieved this feat against Bangladesh during Pakistan’s last 2019 World Cup fixture.

The tall pacer has since then gone on to become the Men in Green’s all-format bowler with exceptional performances in Tests as well as in T20Is. Lately, the left-arm speedster has revealed which is his favorite format and why he loves to be a part of it. The frontline quick has said that he enjoys playing the longest format of the game because he has fulfilled his elder brother’s wish, who could not play many Test matches for Pakistan.

“My brother likes Test cricket but he only played one Test and didn’t get the chance to play again, so it became my wish to play maximum Test matches. Any format I play, I look to enjoy and try to execute performances for Pakistan,” said Shaheen Afridi while speaking to Cricket Pakistan.

After seeing Bhai I wished to become a pacer, says Shaheen Afridi

At the same time, Afridi also added that it is his elder brother who had inspired him to become a fast bowler and how he guided him to become what he is today.

“Bhai used to take me by himself in grounds and academies. I used to watch him and took interest in bowling. I had my coach since the start in the shape of my brother. He has guided me a lot. I always talk to him before and after the match where he tells me my mistakes,” he said.

Shaheen Shah Afridi’s elder brother Riaz was a part of Pakistan’s maiden ICC U-19 World Cup triumph in 2004 and while it seemed that he would be the next big thing of Pakistan cricket, he only went on to make a solitary Test appearance for the national team in the same year against Sri Lanka in Karachi.

Riaz Afridi managed to register two scalps in both innings and finished with figures of 2/87. He never played for the Men in Green again thereafter and continued playing first-class and List-A cricket.