Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi etched his name into the record books on Sunday, becoming the fastest fast bowler in his country’s history to claim 150 wickets in one-day international cricket. The left-arm pacer reached the significant milestone during the fourth match of the ongoing tri-series against England at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Afridi’s breakthrough came early in the contest after he won the toss and elected to field. He struck in the very first over, dismissing England opener Tom Banton to secure his 150th scalp in the 50-over format. The 26-year-old achieved this landmark in his 80th ODI appearance, cementing his status as one of the most prolific bowlers in the modern game.
Surpassing Legends and Climbing Global Rankings
By reaching the 150-wicket mark in 80 matches, Afridi has moved ahead of iconic Pakistan pace duo Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar, who both required 91 matches to reach the same tally. While former spinner Saqlain Mushtaq remains the fastest Pakistani bowler to reach 150 wickets, having done so in 78 matches, Afridi now holds the record for the fastest pace bowler from the nation.
On the global stage, the achievement places the Pakistan skipper in elite company. He is currently the joint-fourth fastest bowler in history to reach 150 ODI wickets, sharing the position with Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan and India’s Mohammed Shami, who also hit the mark in 80 games. The world record is held by Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane, who reached the milestone in 73 matches, followed by Australia’s Mitchell Starc in 77 matches and Mushtaq in 78.
Following his initial breakthrough, Afridi continued to pressure the England batting lineup, claiming the wicket of Joe Root, who was caught at backward point. This performance comes as Pakistan looks to maintain their momentum in the tri-series, having opened their campaign with a 37-run victory over Sri Lanka. England, meanwhile, entered the match seeking their first win of the tournament following a difficult start, which included a high-scoring defeat against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi. The match at Gaddafi Stadium marks the beginning of the Lahore leg of the series, with Pakistan making two adjustments to their playing XI.
