Shaheen Shah Afridi enjoys Lord’s ‘dream’ is news of the day. Read out the complete details down below with us!
Shaheen Shah Afridi enjoys Lord’s ‘dream’
When Pakistan paceman Shaheen Shah Afridi makes his Middlesex home debut at Lord’s on Thursday, he claims he will be living the life of a dream for him. The towering left-arm quick has signed a contract with the English county team, headquartered at the London ground, which is considered the spiritual home of the game.
“It’s every cricketer’s dream to come here and play at the home of cricket,” Afridi told reporters at Lord’s on Wednesday ahead of Middlesex’s match against Leicestershire.
“Now I want to take 10 (wickets in an innings),” he said with a smile.
“When you play for your country you always feel proud and that came against Bangladesh so it was a good game for me as well.
“The first game, everywhere you go, is crucial,” said the paceman, who twice dismissed Australian Test star Marnus Labuschagne in the match — after taking his wicket three times in the recent Test series between Australia and Pakistan.
Afridi’s captain at Middlesex is another Australia batsman in Peter Handscomb.
“It’s nice being on this side, definitely,” said Handscomb, 31, who last played Test cricket in 2019.
“Not so nice in the nets, but out in the middle it’s nice having him on your team.
“That first game, the energy he had running in, the pace on the ball.
“He always wanted another over, so that energy is great to see from someone just coming in. The boys loved him, loved everything that he brought.
“I hope that’s a good sign to come for the next few games.”
Afridi is getting acclimatised to English conditions in more ways than one.
“Last week I felt cold, but it’s really good for me here. Lord’s is the one ground I like. Everything comes second after Lord’s.”
