Shaheen Afridi makes history as first Pakistani to take 100 wickets in every format

Pakistani fast bowler Shaheen Afridi has become the country’s first player to take 100 wickets across all formats of international cricket. 

He achieved the feat in the first T20I against South Africa in Durban on December 10, becoming the third Pakistani player to take 100 wickets in men's T20 Internationals.

In addition to his T20I success, Shaheen has also claimed 112 wickets in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 116 wickets in Test cricket.

The other two Pakistani bowlers to reach the 100-wicket mark in T20 Internationals are Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan.

T20I: Pakistan vs South Africa

The first T20 match between Pakistan and South Africa is scheduled for December 10, 2024, at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban. 

Heinrich Klaasen led the Proteas side, as Aiden Markram is being rested to focus on the upcoming Test series. Key players Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, and Tristan Stubbs were also rested for the T20 series but will participate in the One-Day Internationals. Anrich Nortje and Tabraiz Shamsi return to the T20 squad, with George Linde making a comeback after three years.

On the other hand, the Pakistani squad was led by Mohammad Rizwan, with notable players including Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Haris Rauf. The team aimed to build on recent performances and start the series on a positive note.

Head-to-Head in T20s:
Total Matches: 22
Pakistan won: 12
South Africa won: 10

Pitch Report:

The pitch at Kingsmead in Durban was excellent for batting, with good pace and bounce. Batters can trust the surface and play their shots with confidence. The ball comes onto the bat nicely, making it easier to score runs. This ground has seen some high-scoring games before, and we can expect the same this time.

For bowlers, hitting the right length consistently is key to extracting any help from the pitch. In the final overs, however, they’ll need to vary their deliveries, using different lengths and lines to remain effective.

Probable Playing XI:

Pakistan:
Muhammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Abdullah Shafiq, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Irfan Khan Niazi, Usman Khan, Salman Ali Aghaz, Abbas Afridi

South Africa:
Heinrich Klaasen (C), Dewald Ferreira, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Hendrik van der Dussen, Matthew Breetzke, Peterson Kruger, OEG Baartman, George Linde, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi

T20 Series Schedule:

1st T20I: December 10, Durban
2nd T20I: December 13, Centurion
3rd T20I: December 14, Johannesburg

During the tour of South Africa, Pakistan played three T20s, three ODIs, and two Test matches.