Shaheen Shah Afridi marked his return to domestic first-class cricket after seven years with a four-wicket haul in the President’s Trophy Grade-I.
Shaheen Shah Afridi stars on return to domestic first-class cricket
Playing for the Khan Research Laboratories against Ghani, Shaheen returned figures of 4-61, which included three wickets in an over. His first victim of the innings was opener Khawaja Arham, who could manage 3 off 11 before Shaheen had him caught behind on the second day of the season opener.
The returning quick levelled up on the third day, cleaning up the opposition tail in a space of five deliveries. With Ghani on 306-7 in 81 overs, in reply to KRL's 547-9, Shaheen bowled Ghulam Haider (12 off 47) on the first delivery, before dismissing No.10 Shoaib Akhtar on the third ball with a pinpoint yorker, having tricked him into thinking that he would bowl a short one.
Shaheen then got the better of Ali Raza, who was dismissed trying to cross-bat a short-pitched delivery, only to top-edge it and hand wicketkeeper Asim Ali an easy catch. Ghani were thus bundled out for 306 in their first innings and conceded a 241-run first-innings lead to KRL.
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Earlier in the game, Fakhar Zaman (128) and Imran Rafiq (129) scored hundreds for KRL, and Asim Ali contributed with 87. Shaheen also scored a 49-ball 47 in a knock featuring two fours and three sixes, to power KRL to 547. Haider and Mohammad Wasim picked up four and three wickets, respectively, for Ghani.
In reply, Haseebullah Khan was Ghani's top-scorer, but fell just one short of a fifth first-class ton. Sharjeel Khan (59) and Ali Razzaq (52) also scored respective fifties. Shaheen was the top wicket-taker with four in the first innings, while Iftikhar Ahmed also bagged two.
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This match marks Shaheen’s first appearance in domestic first-class cricket in seven years. His last appearance came back in October 2019, when he featured in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy for Northern against Southern Punjab. He took two wickets in the game which ended in a draw.
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