Towering left-armer says Pakistan’s stars are ready to make their mark in their debut BBL campaigns
Mitchell Starc can take some of the credit as Shaheen Shah Afridi arrives in Australia among a star-studded Pakistan contingent to lead the Brisbane Heat’s depleted attack.
The towering left-armer is already a hardened three-format international at just 25, and was taken with the first pick by the Heat in June’s Big Bash League draft.
A season-ending injury to Spencer Johnson and Michael Neser’s Test duties mean Johan Botha’s side will be leaning heavily on the man who recently took over as Pakistan’s ODI captain.
“They’re experienced bowlers for this team and I hope I play my role, that’s why I’m here,” Afridi said on Wednesday.
“In all three (disciplines) … fielding, and if I need, chipping in batting as well, I’ll give my best.
“It’s not a small league and well-renowned as the best league and … the best cricket with the best players.”
Afridi will line up against Melbourne Renegades in his BBL debut on Monday against the man he replaced as Pakistan’s white-ball skipper, Muhammad Rizwan.
Babar Azam (Sydney Sixers), Hasan Ali (Adelaide Strikers), Haris Rauf (Melbourne Stars) and Shadab Khan (Sydney Thunder) will also feature in the tournament, which begins on Sunday.
“First game against ‘Rizzy’ … a world-quality player, and Babar’s here as well,” Afridi said.
“They know me, I know them. Hopefully we play some good cricket here.
“And we’re really hopeful we get the Pakistani support, and the Asian community as a whole.”
Afridi has taken 126 wickets and gone for less than eight runs an over in 96 T20 internationals, while his Test average (27) and strike rate (52) are world-class.
Starc’s 414th Test wicket at the Gabba last week saw him overtake Afridi’s compatriot Wasim Akram as the most lethal left-armer in Test history.
“The greats are always great,” Afridi said of Akram.
But Afridi says exposure to Starc, 10 years his senior, on his first international tour as a 16-year-old played a huge part in his own story.
Afridi, whose older brother Riaz had already played Test cricket for Pakistan, was plucked from the country’s popular tape-ball circuit for a development tour of Australia and played Test cricket himself barely three years later.
“He’s a legend and last time when we chatted I told him I watched his 2015 (World Cup) bowling spell and that’s why I bowled fuller to the batsman,” Afridi said of Starc.
“I can say he’s a role model for any youngster … he’s been the best for Australia for many years.”
