Meet Abbas Afridi, the latest PSL T20 pace sensation

Abbas Afridi, the young speedster from Multan Sultans, has been making headlines in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight for his exceptional bowling performances.

With 22 wickets in just nine matches, he is currently the leading wicket-taker of the tournament.

Despite having a slightly high economy rate of 10.02, Afridi has proven to be a valuable asset for his team, particularly during the death overs, where he has consistently picked up wickets.

His impressive strike-rate of 8.9 is a testament to his effectiveness on the field.

Born in 2001 in FATA (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Afridi is only 21 years old and already making a name for himself in the world of cricket.

He comes from a family of cricketers, with his uncle Umar Gul being a former Pakistan speedster who played a crucial role in the Men in Green’s T20 World Cup triumph in 2009.

Afridi made his List-A debut for Habib Bank Limited in the 2018-19 Quaid-e-Azam One Day Cup and was part of the Pakistan squad for the 2020 Under-19 World Cup, where he finished as the leading wicket-taker for his nation.

So far in his brief career, he has played three first-class, 14 List A, and 21 T20 matches, taking a total of 52 wickets.

Before joining Multan Sultans, Afridi played for Karachi Kings in 2021, featuring in only four matches for the franchise.

However, he was picked up by Multan ahead of PSL 7 and was among the players retained before the ongoing season.

Afridi’s hat-trick against Quetta Gladiators on Saturday made him the fifth bowler in PSL history to achieve the feat. His wickets included Mohammad Nawaz, Umaid Asif, and Umar Akmal.

One of the key features of Afridi’s bowling is his slower ball, which he often uses to great effect during the death overs. His skill has troubled many batters in the ongoing PSL season.

During the U19 World Cup in 2020 in South Africa, Afridi was the top wicket-taker for Pakistan in the tournament with nine scalps in five innings.

With the next T20 World Cup more than a year away, the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan could be an excellent opportunity to give Afridi some international exposure.

In conclusion, Abbas Afridi’s exceptional performances in the ongoing PSL season eight have made him one of the most promising young talents in Pakistan cricket.

With his impressive record and skills, he is undoubtedly a player to watch out for in the future.