30*, 2, 0, 4 and 6 were Afridi’s past batting scores in One Day matches before playing the most awaited match of Asia Cup : Pakistan Vs India. Undeterred by the past, he scored a match winning innings against India – their arch rivals. Yes we are talking about ‘The Showman – ShahidAfridi’. His fiery knock of 34*of just 18 balls in a crunch situation against the World No. 2 side India not only proved to be match winning innings but also proved to be reason for India’s ouster from this year’s Asia-Cup. The match as expected didn’t disappoint the viewers as it ended in the last over with Afridi hitting two big sixes to take Pakistan home.

Shahid Afridi Asia Cup heroics
Shahid Afridi Asia Cup heroics

The story didn’t end here. After having regained his lost form from the previous match against India, he again proved his mettle in the next league match against the host nation Bangladesh. Chasing a stiff target of 327, an aggressive knock of 59 off 25 balls by Shahid Afridi paved way for a relatively easy win for Pakistan, the chase at one stage  looked to be a difficult one against the host nation. This is what he does. Though his bowling has been more consistent than his batting over the past years, his 2 out of 10 innings of batting are the match winning ones. His aggressive style of batting and bowling as well, is the reason why he is called ‘Boom Boom Afridi’ by his fans.

Relive some of Afridi’s Asia Cup heroics:  Afridi murders Bangladesh in Asia Cup 2014

Coming out of conditional retirement in the year 2011, which he announced in May of the same year due to the ill-treatment given to him by the PCB as he says, this man has slowly rediscovered his golden touch.  This resurgence by him is shown by the records he has achieved up till now since his conditional retirement. The Show-Man having hit most number of sixes in ODI’s and also his recent glory run has certainly raised the chances of Pakistan regaining the World T20 title which is hosted in the same country just a week after Asia Cup.

PS: The article has been contributed by CricBol.com intern Sushant Telang.

Published by Ankit

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