Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi reacts throughout the Tremendous Eights match towards England on the Pallekele Worldwide Cricket Stadium, Kandy, Sri Lanka, on February 24, 2026. — Reuters
Former England worldwide cricketer Michael Atherton has termed Pakistani pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi a really harmful opponent for any staff.
Regardless of England inflicting a defeat on the Pakistani aspect within the Tremendous Eights stage of the T20 World Cup 2026 in Kandy, Atherton, who can also be a cricket commentator, praised Shaheen for regaining type.
When requested to touch upon the quick bowler, he mentioned: “Wickets up top is what he’s all about. His combination of obviously decent pace, and if he can get that ball swinging, he remains a very dangerous opponent.”
England chased down their goal of 165 with 5 balls to spare, regardless of a late wobble. Captain Harry Brook scored his first T20 worldwide century to take England into the World Cup semi-finals with a nervy two-wicket win.
Atherton recalled that Shaheen — who took 4 wickets within the match towards England — has had a troublesome time. “And, you know, he’s one of the kind of iconic figures of Pakistan cricket.”
“So it’s good to see him back, taking wickets at the top of the order. And he got Pakistan right back in the game. They only needed to get Harry Brook out and that was probably Pakistan’s game. But Brook was just too good for them tonight,” he added.
After England restricted Pakistan to 164-9, Brook got here in on the second ball of the innings with the rating 0-1 after Phil Salt’s golden duck, caught behind off Shaheen.
Wickets tumbled within the energy play however Brook stood agency.
He lifted his aspect from a precarious 35-3 to 155-6 when he was dismissed by Shaheen, having scored the second quickest century in T20 World Cup historical past and the primary by a staff captain.
Shaheen hailed Brook’s century as a “world-class knock” and mentioned that this is able to be one of the best innings of his life. “Brook played proper cricketing shots, and he deserved a handshake, so I went to him and shook his hand in appreciation,” mentioned the pacer.
