Wasim Akram Reckons Shahid Afridi Has Redefined Opening in Test Cricket, Not Virender Sehwag

Mar 30, 2020 at 12:22 PM

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Wasim Akram Reckons Shahid Afridi Has Redefined Opening in Test Cricket, Not Virender Sehwag

Whenever there is a debate to reveal an attacking Test opener, many remember the name of former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag. The flamboyant opener had somewhere changed the definition of how an opener needs to play the longest form of cricket. But former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram believes it was not Sehwag who redefined opening in Test cricket.

Wasim Akram credited former Pakistan captain and allrounder Shahid Afridi for changing the mindset of the opening batsman in the red-ball cricket. He said that when Afridi entered the field, he gave the opposition bowler tough time with his attacking style of play.

Wasim Akram on Shahid Afridi’s brilliant performance:

Shahid Afridi, AB de Villiers
Shahid Afridi. (Photo credit should read MICHAEL BRADLEY/AFP/Getty Images)

Wasim Akram while discussing with Afridi on a YouTube chat show has revealed that he believes Sehwag was not the first but his fellow teammate has brought the revolution in the traditional format.

“In Test cricket, Sehwag came later but in 1999-2000 Shahid Afridi changed the mindset of opening in Test cricket. Even if I was the bowler I would know that I can get him out but also know that he can hit me for boundaries. He used to hit lose deliveries for sixes at will,” said Akram while chatting with Afridi on a Youtube chat show.

Further, the legendary cricketer Akram said that earlier selectors were not including the veteran allrounder in the Test squad. But because of Akram’s rigidity, Afridi was picked for the tour of India to play Test series.

Shahid Afridi
Shahid Afridi (Credits – Getty Images).

And Afridi also didn’t disappoint his senior cricketer and scored his maiden Test century (141) in the first Test at Chennai, to help Pakistan take a 1-0 lead. Pakistan went on to win the series with 2-1.

However, Afridi’s Test career did not take flight as he only managed to play 27 Test matches for Pakistan. But he continued his impressive performance in the limited-overs leg. He went on to play 398 ODIs and 99 T20Is for Pakistan.

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