Shaheen Afridi scripts unique record against Australia

LAHORE: Left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi achieved a unique feat against Australia, becoming the third Pakistan captain to take a wicket on the first ball of an ODI. 

Shaheen registered the record with Alex Carey’s wicket on the first ball of the innings. Carey chopped on a wider delivery and eventually paid the price.

With this, Shaheen joined Wasim Akram and Waqar Younas in the list of captains to achieve the feat.

Akram was the first to accomplish this feat by dismissing Andy Flower on the very first ball of their ODI against Zimbabwe in 1993. Waqar Younis later achieved the same by taking England’s Marcus Trescothick in 2001.

Pakistan captains to take wicket on the first delivery of ODI

Wasim Akram – 1993 against Zimbabwe in Karachi
Waqar Younis – 2001 against England in Leeds
Shaheen Shah Afridi – 2026 against Australia in Lahore

After Carey’s wicket, Shaheen also dismissed Matthew Kuhnemann and Nathan Ellis later in the innings, finishing with impressive figures of 3/36 in eight overs.

The left-arm pacer remained crucial in limiting Australia to a 231-run total in 50 overs. He was ably backed by Abrar Ahmed and Arafat Minhas, who took two wickets each.

For Australia, Cameron Green and Josh Inglis scored calculated half-centuries. Inglis made 51 off 74, while Green scored 53 off 92 deliveries.

READ: Shaheen takes three as Pakistan limit Australia to modest total