Pakistan's pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi displayed an exceptional bowling show in the ODI World Cup clash against Australia at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, Friday, October 20.
Despite Australian batters' run-fest Shaheen's bowling precision stood out as an exception as he returned with an outstanding bowling figures of 5/54 in a span of 10 overs.
This feat marks his third instance of claiming five wickets in ODIs and second in the World Cup. The Australian duo, David Warner and Mitchell Marsh, combined to stitch a monstrous 259-run partnership for the opening wicket. However, Afridi's skills shone through when he sent Marsh back to the pavilion on the score 121. Afridi roared again by dismissing Glenn Maxwell for a golden duck.
Afridi continued his streak, capturing the wickets of Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood. It was Afridi who impacted Australia's scoring momentum, restricting what could have been a 400-plus total to 367/9.
Afridi's On-Field Devotion Garners Attention
The match further garnered attention, not just due to Afridi's brilliant five-wicket feat, but for what transpired after he claimed his fifth wicket. Following Hazlewood's dismissal in the innings' final phase, Afridi took a moment to offer prayers on the field. Such a gesture, a mark of gratitude after achieving a milestone, is not unprecedented among Pakistani cricketers.
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However, the optics of this incident might stir up a controversy in the context of the World Cup. This speculation arises from a recent incident involving Mohammad Rizwan. Rizwan faced legal trouble after he was seen offering Namaz during match against the Netherlands. A complaint had been lodged with the ICC by an advocate based in New Delhi, advocating punitive measures against Rizwan.
Talking about the match, Pakistan's response to Australia's total started on a positive note. As of 16.4 overs Pakistan are 100 for no loss with Abdullah Shafique (49 off 51) and Imam Ul Haq (44 off 49) intact on the crease.
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