Abbas Afridi, a young Pakistani fast bowler and nephew of former cricketer Umar Gul, has gained attention on social media due to a comical misfield during the T20 match against New Zealand. Born on April 5, 2001, in Peshawar, he made his international debut in January 2022 and has since taken 32 wickets in 19 T20Is, boasting an impressive average of 14.78. Afridi also plays for the Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), where he was a leading wicket-taker in 2023, and he gained fame for a hat-trick in the Global T20 Canada.
Abbas Afridi, a fast bowler from Pakistan and the nephew of former pacer Umar Gul, is currently gaining significant attention on social media for his performance during the T20 match against New Zealand. Let’s delve into more details about him.
Abbas Afridi with Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi
Abbas Afridi, a talented young fast bowler from Pakistan, is carving a niche for himself in the world of international cricket. He is swiftly establishing himself as a vital player for his team, showcasing remarkable skills and consistent performances. Recently, however, he caught everyone’s attention on social media due to a comical misfield at long-off during the ongoing T20 series against New Zealand. Here’s a brief overview of Abbas Afridi and his international achievements to date.
Who is Abbas Afridi?
Born on April 5, 2001, in Peshawar, Pakistan, Muhammad Abbas Afridi made his international debut for the Pakistan national team in January of last year. Many may not realize that he is the nephew of the former Pakistani fast bowler Umar Gul. In the 19 T20I matches he has played so far, Afridi has claimed 32 wickets at an average of 14.78.
In addition to his international career, Abbas Afridi joined the Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) for the 2021 season and emerged as the leading wicket-taker in the 2023 PSL.
Beyond the PSL, he also played for the Montreal Tigers in the 2023 Global T20 Canada, where he gained notoriety after achieving a hat-trick against the Vancouver Knights.
Abbas Afridi’s recent fielding blunder
During the third T20I against the Blackcaps, with the Kiwis on track for 175 runs and three overs left, it was Shaheen Afridi bowling his last over when Blackcaps’ Michael Bracewell hit a shot toward long-off. What should have been a simple single or two runs turned into a boundary due to Abbas Afridi’s fielding blunder. Videos of this mishap have gone viral on social media, with netizens criticizing him for his skills and alleging nepotism.