Abbas Afridi is one of the rising star from Pakistani cricket, born in FATA (now merged into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) on April 5, 2001. A right arm fast medium bowler, Abbas carries the legacy of his uncle Umar Gul, one of the most iconic pacers for Pakistan. The influence of his uncle Umar Gul in his career has been crucial enough to take him on his path to professional cricketing.
He began his first-class career for Habib Bank Limited with making a List A debut in the 2018-19 Quaid-e-Azam One Day Cup, followed up the following year with a first-class debut for them during the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy the same season. He shot to fame after having become the top wicket-taker for Pakistan during the 2020 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup.
He had also made his franchise cricketing debut in the Pakistan Super League in 2021 with Karachi Kings but made a stronger presence with Multan Sultans. Abbas was the leading wicket-taker during the PSL season 2023, where he took 23 wickets that include one hat-trick. He even sparkled in international T20 leagues like Global T20 Canada by performing and taking a hat-trick for Montreal Tigers and receiving immense appreciation.
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Abbas started his international journey back in 2024. He took his first T20I against New Zealand where he took three wickets. This performance kept on going, and he was able to make Pakistan’s squad for the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Despite his increasing popularity, not much has been known about Abbas’ immediate family, but his relations with Umar Gul have been well-documented. Abbas has been working towards becoming a regular in Pakistan national team, famous for his aggressive bowling and easy-going nature.
Abbas Afridi is typical of a great blend that tradition with modernity has forged in today’s cricket–the essence that has been derived not only from the rich fast-bowling past of Pakistan but also carved out a unique entity in itself internationally.
Here is a formatted table summarizing Abbas Afridi’s career statistics across various cricket formats:
| Format | Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20Is | 15 | 15 | 253 | 349 | 24 | 3/17 | 3/17 | 14.54 | 8.27 | 10.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| FC | 9 | 14 | 1076 | 677 | 23 | 4/84 | 5/53 | 29.43 | 3.77 | 46.7 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| List A | 28 | 26 | 1089 | 1027 | 44 | 5/38 | 5/38 | 23.34 | 5.65 | 24.7 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| T20s | 62 | 62 | 1187 | 1688 | 88 | 5/47 | 5/47 | 19.18 | 8.53 | 13.4 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
- Key Stats:
- In T20Is, Abbas Afridi has a stellar bowling average of 14.54, with his best figures of 3/17.
- In first-class (FC) cricket, his standout performance includes a best match analysis of 5/53.
- List A cricket showcases his skill with two five-wicket hauls, with the best figures of 5/38.
- His T20 record highlights his effectiveness, particularly his 5/47 spell, emphasizing his ability to shine under pressure.