It was a wicket which resonated around the world. A clatter of stumps followed by the click of a thousand cameras, capturing the moment for posterity.
When Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed Alex Hales in the 2022 T20 World Cup final with the proverbial jaffa, Pakistan’s chances of claiming their fourth global title received an immediate boost.
Indeed, if Afridi had been able to complete his four overs without being forced from the field through injury, the Men in Green may well have gone on to lift the silverware, instead of Jos Buttler’s England.
It was a moment which left Hales, soon to be a teammate of Afridi’s at Notts during the 2023 Vitality Blast, in no doubt as to the quality of the man who sent him packing.
“In my opinion, with the late swing he gets from a six-foot seven frame, Shaheen is one of the best new-ball bowlers in the world,” said Hales.
“It was a lovely ball from him early on, and it meant I spent a lot of time in the changing rooms watching our chase. It was a pretty long and nervy hour and a half or so!
“Had Shaheen not been unfortunate enough to pick up an injury it could have been much tighter.
“He was devastated when he got injured: we could actually hear him shouting and grunting from the changing rooms.
“In the end, it was an awesome game of cricket – and to win the world title was as special as it gets.”
Afridi will join the likes of Jake Ball and Olly Stone in a pace-bowling battery blessed with international experience for the 2023 edition of the Blast – with reinforcements also having been recruited in the batting ranks.
Former New Zealand international Colin Munro – a title-winner in The Hundred alongside Hales last summer – will also represent the Outlaws this summer, and Hales believes his firepower could prove crucial.
“That is just an outstanding signing,” said Hales of Munro’s impending arrival.
“I’ve been lucky enough to play a lot of cricket with him over the past 12 to 18 months, and he’s an excellent player.
“He’s got the ability to adapt in all conditions – whether it’s a tough deck or a flat pitch – and he’ll be an excellent addition to the dressing room as a character.
“We have a bit to prove this year – missing out on the quarter-finals last season was an incredibly bitter pill to swallow – so we’re really keen to go out there and make a statement of intent.”
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