Shaheen Afridi is one of the most exciting young quicks in world cricket.
Still just 20, he already has 93 international wickets to his name. In T20 cricket, remarkably, only Lasith Malinga has more five-wicket hauls than the Pakistani fast bowler in the format.
It was at the 2018 U19 World Cup where Shaheen first announced himself on the global stage – in a Pakistan side that finished runners-up, Shaheen took 12 wickets at 14.58. What’s lesser known, though, is that Shaheen isn’t the only member of his family to star at an U19 World Cup and represent his country in Test cricket.
His older brother, Riaz Afridi, starred in the 2004 tournament, finishing as Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker as they won the tournament for the first time. A right-arm quick 15 years Shaheen’s senior, Riaz took the all important wicket of the well-set West Indies skipper Denesh Ramdin in the final.
Riaz was rewarded with a maiden Test cap later that year. Still 19, Riaz debuted alongside Rana Naved-Ul-Hasan against a star-studded Sri Lanka side at Karachi. He didn’t perform badly, either. In a series-levelling win, Riaz claimed a pair of crucial first innings wickets in the form of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene on the first afternoon.
Despite his role, albeit a peripheral one, in an impressive Pakistan win at the age of 19, Riaz Afridi never played for Pakistan again. He was consistently excellent at domestic level, only once averaging above 27 with the ball across a domestic first-class season after his sole international appearance. Unfortunately for Riaz, that was never quite enough for him to win a recall.
Injuries plagued the seamer however and, according to his ESPNcricinfo player profile, was subject to doubts over his action. Riaz last played first-class cricket at the age of 30 in 2015. He finished his professional career with 328 first-class wickets at an average of 24.60.
