Cricket in Pakistan is a culture, a cult, an unexplained kind of charm that provides sustenance for the masses, the elite, the men, women & children of this country. Cricket is a force that unites like no other!
And when that force takes on the form of a cricketer who steps beyond the playing field to take on greater life missions, it is but natural that the crowds will follow.
Shahid Afridi carries that divine halo above his head. He is loved for his outspokenness, his philanthropy, and his passion for all things Pakistani. His fans call him Boom Boom or Lala, his Twitter handle boasts 1.6M followers and growing. If you’re a Pakistani, or cricket lover, or both, you probably treat him like a national treasure!
Here’s 10 things to know about him & why & how he’s gathered all the love!
1. Winning On The Field
An all-rounder, Shahid Afridi bowled leg-spin and was recognized for his aggressive batting. Afridi was also a world record holder, holding the record for the fastest ODI century, in 37 deliveries. The record stood for 17 years before being broken by Corey Anderson. He also holds the record for having hit the most sixes in the history of ODI cricket.
In his first international innings, Afridi broke the record for the fastest century in ODI cricket, reaching his hundred from 37 balls. The eleven sixes he struck also equaled the record for most in an ODI inning.
2. The Famous Bat
Playing his debut knock, Shahid Afridi took the Sri Lankan bowlers to the cleaners as he smashed a ton off 37 balls. What many don’t know is the fact that the hundred were scored from Sachin Tendulkar’s bat.
“I have safely kept the bat with which I played my first innings. The bat created history. It was Sachin’s bat and he is one of my favourite players and I created a world record from his bat. And I am thankful to Waqar Younis for the bat as he was the one who gave it to me when I was practicing before the match. He asked me to play the game with that bat,” Afridi said.
“The bat played a major role in the making of Shahid Afridi. It’s very special for me. In between, I tried to play with it later on but then decided to preserve it.”
3. Date Of Birth Enigma
He was just 16 years of age when he hit that century. (Or not) His autobiography ‘Game Changer’ mentions his DOB as 1975, but earlier versions state it as 1980! Yeah, we’re still wrapping our heads around that one. 5 years plus or minus is the rule!
4. Better With The Ball Than The Bat?
Shahid Afridi made his Test debut against Australia at Karachi in 1998. He joined the likes of Narendra Hirwani and Bob Massie by picking up a 5 wicket haul on Test debut.
5. The Captain He’d Pick Everytime?
His favorite Pakistani Captain would be Waseem Akram!
6. The Cricketer NEVER To Sit Next To In A Long Haul Flight?
When asked once if there was a person he would never want to sit next to on a long haul flight. He mentioned Misbah ul Haq ( He has too much to say, Afridi responded apologetically, but he’s a good bloke)!
7. How Did He Get His Nickname ‘Boom Boom’?
One of the fans of Afridi named Talha asked his hero: ”Who gave you the title Boom Boom?” To which Shahid Afridi replied “Ravi Shastri”.
8. Yeah, He Has An Opinion On SRK!
9. Boom Boom Or Lala? Which One Does He Prefer?
10. He’s More Than Just A Cricketer
In March 2014, Afridi established the Shahid Afridi Foundation which aims to provide healthcare and education facilities in Pakistan. He was named among the world’s most charitable athletes by Do Something in August 2015.
Shahid Afridi Foundation (SAF) is a non-profit organization in Pakistan with Globally registered Chapters in the USA, UK, Australia, & South Africa. It aims to spread education, healthcare services, and access to water across Pakistan in order to empower underprivileged communities for a better future.
UNICEF and many Pakistani authorities have also taken Shahid Afridi on board for the anti-polio campaign in the tribal belt of the Waziristan region.
11. A Proud Foodie!
In an interview, Afridi confessed that he is a huge fan of Hyderabadi Biryani. However, when prompted he said that if he had to have one dish forever, it would be BBQ!
We all know him as Boom Boom Afridi who loves hitting sixes (especially when we least expect it) but there is much more to him than just cricket. We wish him a very happy birthday and hope his fans reading this found out a new thing or two about him!
