'He Asked Me To Not Try The Yorker'- Shaheen Afridi Recalls His Conversation With Shoaib Malik Before KL Rahul's Wicket in 20-20 WC 2021

Shaheen Shah Afridi has become a very crucial cog in the Pakistan team at the age of just 22. He has scripted many records for the Men in Green and has become a nightmare for the opposition in white-ball format. One of his most memorable performances came against India in the UAE during the 20-20 World Cup in 2021.

His spectacular new-ball spell enabled Pakistan to win their first World Cup match against India. Shaheen took three wickets in that match, including Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Virat Kohli. Now, just days before India's blockbuster match against Pakistan at the MCG in the 20-20 World Cup 2022, Shaheen recalled how Rohit and Rahul's dismissals were planned.

Shaheen told ESPNCricinfo that he was determined to put on a performance against India that would live on in the minds of Pakistan fans. However, the pressure was on both him and his side. "A time comes in your career when you want to make a name for yourself and this opportunity comes when you face the bigger teams. I always wanted to play against India and this was my first T20 against them. I wanted to perform in a way that people would always remember. We also hadn't won against India in a World Cup before," he said.

Afridi revealed that he had studied Rohit's dismissal pattern and discovered his vulnerability against inswing deliveries at a yorker length.  "I had observed that Rohit Sharma struggles against the inswing, at that yorker length. In 2021, most of my dismissals were with that length. So I thought to myself if that's my strength why not use it against him in the first ball that bowl to him," he recalled.

I owe that wicket to Shoaib Malik: Shaheen Afridi

Shaheen then revealed his conversation with Shoaib Malik, and how the former Pakistan captain's critical advice resulted in Rahul's dismissal in the next over. "For KL Rahul, I happened to be standing with Shoaib Malik. He asked me if the ball was swinging, and I said, not much. He asked me to not try the yorker ball but the length ball and it might just nip back in. I tried it and that's exactly what happened. I owe that wicket to Shoaib Malik," he said.