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From Run-Out Chance To Boundary: Shaheen Afridi Made Hardik Pandya Smile In T20 World Cup

Akshita Patel

Shaheen Afridi's fielding blunder in T20 World Cup [Source: @ICC/Instagram]Shaheen Afridi's fielding blunder in T20 World Cup [Source: @ICC/Instagram]

In a dramatic moment during the India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2021 match in Dubai, Pakistani pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi made a costly error that gifted four free runs to India, right when the pressure was at its peak. His overthrow allowed India to set a competitive total, though the results went in Pakistan’s favour.

India were batting first at the Dubai International Stadium, and Afridi opened with a sensational burst. He dismissed India’s star openers Rohit Sharma for 0 and KL Rahul for just 3, sending shockwaves through the Indian batting lineup. 

He later came back to get rid of Virat Kohli, ending with figures of 4 overs, 31 runs, and 3 wickets, the best for Pakistan in that innings. 

Shaheen Afridi’s Comical Fielding Error Leaves Fans In Splits

However, an incident occurred during the final stages of India’s innings. On the last ball of the 19th over, Hardik Pandya completely missed a delivery from Shaheen Afridi. 

Since it was a free hit, Pandya and his partner Bhuvneshwar Kumar decided to take a quick bye. Pakistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan attempted a quick underarm throw to run out Kumar but missed the stumps. 

Afridi, who was backing up, collected the ball and tried to run out Pandya at the non-striker’s end. However, his throw went wayward, sailing past the fielders at long-off and long-on.

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ICC's IG post [Source: @ICC/Instagram]ICC's IG post [Source: @ICC/Instagram]

The end result was four costly overthrows. So instead of just one bye, India got five runs in total from that single delivery. It was a rare and unexpected mistake from Afridi, who was otherwise having a dream spell.

India still managed to post 151/7 in 20 overs, thanks to a classy 57 off 49 balls from Kohli, who held the innings together with five boundaries and a six.

However, Pakistan openers Babar Azam and Rizwan came out all guns blazing in the chase and won the game with 10 wickets.