LAHORE: Pakistan’s ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi has achieved a major milestone in international cricket, completing 150 wickets in One Day Internationals (ODIs) during the second match of the tri-nation series against England.
Shaheen became Pakistan’s fastest fast bowler to reach the landmark, achieving the feat in his 80th ODI appearance at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
The left-arm pacer reached the milestone by dismissing England’s in-form opener Tom Banton in the very first over of the match. Banton, who had scored four consecutive half-centuries in his previous four innings, was caught in the cover region off a full-length delivery from Shaheen.
Among Pakistani bowlers, former off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq remains the fastest to 150 ODI wickets, having achieved the milestone in 78 matches. Shaheen is second on the national list, ahead of former fast bowlers Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar, who both reached the mark in 91 matches.
At the international level, Shaheen ranks joint-fourth among the fastest bowlers to claim 150 ODI wickets, according to the reported statistics.
Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane holds the record, having reached the milestone in 73 matches, while Australia’s Mitchell Starc achieved it in 77 matches.
Shaheen’s achievement further highlights his importance to Pakistan’s bowling attack as he continues to lead the national side in ODI cricket.