Success Or Failure: Shaheen Afridi's Performance In Asia Cup Decoded

Shaheen Afridi record in Asia Cup [Source: AFP Photo]

The Asia Cup 2025 is just around the corner, and apart from the Indian side, Pakistan will enter the tournament as the second favourites. However, for the Men in Green to capture the tournament, they need a fit Shaheen Afridi at their helm. Despite having a slump in form, the team needs one of its best pacers to be on board for the Asia Cup.

Pakistan is a young side, and Shaheen's presence will boost their inexperienced bowling attack, which lacks cutting-edge at the moment. Ahead of the marquee event, we look at how the left-arm spearhead has performed in all the Asia Cup editions.

Shaheen Afridi's record in Asia Cup history

Shaheen Afridi has featured in two Asia Cup editions (2018, 2023), and has been a revelation for his side at the marquee event.

(Shaheen stats in Asia Cup)

As the table suggests, Shaheen has played 8 matches in the coveted tournament and has 14 wickets to his name. During the 2018 Asia Cup edition, Shaheen just burst onto the scene and was a raw talent, as he averaged 31.75, but his economy was less than 5 runs per over.

In the 2018 edition, he failed to deliver the goods against India, as he went wicketless, but the pacer scalped 2 wickets each vs Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.

Fast forward to 2023, Shaheen was at the peak of his powers, but the fast bowler had a dip in pace due to a serious injury in 2022 (due to which he missed the 2022 Asia Cup). He started the tournament with two wickets against Nepal, and then came the performance of the tournament, as he scalped 4 wickets to rattle the Indian top-order.

His form then dropped a bit, as the pacer could only take four wickets in the next three games, as Pakistan failed to reach the finale of the Asia Cup. He ended the event with 10 wickets under his belt.

Final verdict

So far, the left-arm pacer has had contrasting Asia Cup performances. In his first edition, Shaheen was still finding his feet at the international level, but during the 2023 event, he was at his best and was one of Pakistan's best players of the tournament.

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