Watch: Shaheen Afridi cleans up Babar Azam for a duck in practice match ahead of Tri-nation series
Published - 04 Feb 2025, 03:40 PM | Updated - 04 Feb 2025, 03:41 PM
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The Pakistan National Cricket Team is currently gearing up for the tri-nation ODI series against New Zealand and South Africa that will provide a dress rehearsal for all three teams for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, starting on February 19.
The four-match Tri-nation ODI series is set to get underway on February 8 with the hosts, the Pakistan National Cricket Team, taking on the New Zealand National Cricket Team at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Ahead of this much-awaited tri-nation ODI series, the PCB arranged a training camp for the team.
Shaheen Afridi stuns Babar Azam in a practice match
The Men in Green are currently engaged in a “scenario-based practice” session in Lahore, where Shaheen Afridi cleaned up Babar Azam. In a viral video, the star Pakistani batter was seen clueless of the star pacer’s fiery delivery during the intra-squad match in Lahore.
Shaheen Afridi removed Babar Azam for a duck in the first over in a practice match, with the Pakistani pacer being over the moon as he was seen at his best with the ball ahead of the all-important Tri-nation ODI series followed by the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Shaheen Afridi got Babar Azam on duck in the first over in practice match 🤯🔥 pic.twitter.com/O3xQyR2Sja
— Abu Bakar Tarar (@abubakartarar_) February 4, 2025
Shaheen Afridi shares a lovely anniversary post for his wife Ansha Shahid
Meanwhile, Shaheen Afridi recently shared a heartwarming message for his wife Ansha Shahid, as the couple celebrated two years of marriage.
Taking to Instagram, the star speedster posted a beautiful unseen picture with Ansha and shared a note to express his love and gratitude to her.
Shaheen posted on Instagram: “Hard to believe it’s already been two years with you. I had never imagined the depth of love and connection I could share with anyone until you made it possible. Thank you for making our lives beautiful. I & Aliyaar will forever be grateful. Happy Anniversary—my love, my best friend, my soulmate! Here is to many more, In shaa’Allah.”
View this post on Instagram
Notably, Shaheen Afridi married the daughter of former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi, Ansha Shahid, in a nikah ceremony in 2023, followed by grand wedding celebrations. The couple was blessed with their first child, a baby boy, in August last year.
On the other hand, Babar Azam’s inconsistent performance with the bat is a major concern for the Pakistan National Cricket Team ahead of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Babar has been the pillar of Pakistan’s batting lineup, but his last 10 innings scores highlight his inconsistency.
If Babar Azam doesn’t perform at CT 2025, he will say, I was forcefully made to open: Basit Ali
In his last 10 innings across the formats, the right-handed batter smashed five fifties, but most of the time, Azam was dismissed for a single-digit score, and his struggles with the bat continued during the recent two-match Test series against the West Indies, amassing only 45 runs at home.
Despite this, Babar is all set to open alongside Fakhar Zaman in the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025. Reacting to the national selectors’ decision, Basit Ali said that Babar Azam's excuse is ready if he fails to perform as an opener at the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025.
Basit Ali said on his YouTube channel, “Babar’s place in the team will remain unaffected, irrespective of his performance in the Champions Trophy. I hope Babar performs. If he performs, he will say I played for Pakistan. If he doesn’t perform, he will say, I was forcefully made to open.”
