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Lahore Qalandars captain Shaheen Shah Afridi has brushed aside talks of turning into a full-fledged all-rounder, clarifying that his focus remains firmly on his primary role as a fast bowler.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with a local sports platform ahead of season 10 of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Shaheen opened up about his much-talked-about batting promotions since taking over Qalandars’ captaincy in 2022.
Explaining why he often walks in earlier than expected in pressure situations, Shaheen said it’s a tactical move to protect the senior batters and absorb the early damage himself.
“When I come to bat early, the team is already four to five wickets down at an early stage. I come to bat because the team needs me,” he said.
“I don’t want the main batters of the team to go out there in a difficult situation. I try to go under the pressure and make some quick runs.”
The left-armer stressed that his own wicket isn’t as valuable in such scenarios compared to the experienced batters.
“If I get out doing that, there’s no importance to my wicket, but if a senior batter went out in that situation, the team would be under pressure,” he added.
Shaheen Afridi believes this approach can create a shift in momentum and put the opposition under pressure.
“I try to handle the pressure for the team. If we get some runs, the pressure on the other team will increase,” he said.
While Shaheen’s cameos with the bat have drawn attention, he made it clear that he has no plans of rebranding himself as an all-rounder.
“I don’t have any such intention of being an all-rounder. My job is to bowl and then bat,” he concluded.
It’s worth noting that PSL 10 will begin on Friday, April 11, with defending champions Islamabad United taking on Lahore Qalandars in the tournament opener at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.