Watch: Shaheen Shah Afridi played a key innings in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final yesterday (March 18), promoting himself above David Wiese, with the moment his innings began noted after the game for Wiese’s bemused reaction as Shaheen charged down the stairs.

The 2023 PSL reached its conclusion in dramatic fashion, as Lahore Qalandars fended off Multan Sultans amid final-over carnage, defending 200 to win by one run and retain the trophy.

The final hung in the balance throughout, with Lahore Qalandars starting confidently with the bat before a middle-order collapse. When Sikandar Raza was dismissed, bowled by Khushdil Shah, 37-year-old Namibia all-rounder Wiese was due to be the next man in at No.7.

At 112-5 from 14.1 overs, with Lahore needing a high-scoring finish to post a defendable total, a confident and smiling Shaheen had other ideas.

Shaheen bounded down the stairs from the changing rooms above the dugouts, clutching his helmet and gloves while brandishing his bat. A calm nod from the 22-year-old towards his teammates, including a bewildered and fully-padded Wiese, prefaced Shaheen’s match-defining 44* off just 15 balls.

Commentator Simon Doull said: “Wiese was up and about and ready to go out, and Shaheen just charged out of the changing room – he says ‘no, I’m fine’”.

In the end, Shaheen’s swaggering self-promotion might just have won Lahore Qalandars the tournament, his destructive innings pushing their total up to 200. Wiese joined him for the final eight balls, facing just two.

Shaheen went on to take four wickets, albeit costing 51 runs, earning the Player of the Match award in the process.

Watch the moment Shaheen promoted himself below:

David Wiese was due to come in at 7 and Shaheen was like “hold my chai.”#MSvLQ #PSLFinal pic.twitter.com/8FgMPzuYHu

— Auni Akhter (@AuniAkhter) March 18, 2023