Shaheen Shah Afridi was born on 6 April 2000, in Landi Kotal, Khyber District, Pakistan. He grew up as the youngest of seven in a Pashtun family. His elder brother, Riaz Afridi, had a short stint for Pakistan in 2004. Inspired by his brother, Shaheen played tennis-ball cricket until he entered FATA Under‑16 trials in 2015 and impressed selectors for his pace.
Standing over 6′6″, he blended height with athleticism from a young age. At 15, he joined the Pakistan U‑16 tour of Australia, claiming four wickets across formats .
Shaheen’s early life in the tribal regions of Khyber was shaped by limited resources but immense passion for the game. Cricket was not just a hobby—it was a dream he pursued with raw determination. Despite the lack of formal coaching facilities, he developed a natural bowling action that caught attention due to his ability to extract bounce and seam movement, even on flat pitches. His performances in local tournaments and age-group matches further reinforced his potential. With unwavering support from his family—particularly his brother Riaz—Shaheen was soon fast-tracked into Pakistan’s cricket development programs, setting the foundation for a stellar rise.
Shaheen’s nickname, “The Eagle,” reflects his upright, intimidating run-up and early‑morning training discipline. He’s quiet off the field, enjoys traveling, watching movies, and has mentioned biryani and chapli kebab as his favorite foods.
Furthermore, his physiques—tall and lean—helps his ability to generate pace with minimal effort. He embodies focus and consistency, traits often visible when he bowls outside the powerplay.
In March 2021, Shaheen got engaged to Ansha, daughter of former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi. The couple married in a private ceremony in Karachi on 3 February 2023, and welcomed their son, Aliyaar, on 24 August 2024.
In addition, the Khyber‑Pakhtunkhwa Police honored him as an honorary DSP and goodwill ambassador in July 2022.
2015 – Made a mark in FATA U‑16 trials and impressed in Australia U‑16 tour.
Dec 2016 – Selected for Pakistan U‑19 Asia Cup squad; shone with 3/27 vs Singapore.
Early 2017 – Joined Dhaka Dynamites (Bangladesh Premier League).
Sept 2017 – Made first-class debut for Khan Research Laboratories, taking 8/39.
Dec 2017 – Named Pakistan U‑19 World Cup squad; finished as leading wicket-taker (12 wickets) .
He made his PSL debut in Feb 2018, taking 5/4 in one of his first matches for Lahore Qalandars.
Shaheen rose swiftly through Pakistan’s ranks:
T20I debut – 3 April 2018 vs West Indies
ODI debut – 21 September 2018 vs Afghanistan
Test debut – 3 December 2018 vs New Zealand
At the 2019 ODI World Cup, he became the youngest bowler to pick up a five-for (6/35 vs Bangladesh)
Key milestones:
First Test five-wicket haul vs Sri Lanka (Dec 2019)
ICC Rising Star (2019 World Cup)
ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year & Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy (Jan 2022).
Fastest bowler for Pakistan to take 100 ODI wickets – 51 matches (Oct 2023).
Completed 100 wickets in all formats by Dec 2024, becoming the youngest to do so.
Named T20I captain in Nov 2023 after Babar Azam stepped down.
Played in 2024 T20 World Cup and key series since; latest ODI vs India in Feb 2025.
| Format | Matches | Wickets | Avg | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 31 | 116 | 27.88 | 6/51 |
| ODI | 64 | 127 | 24.37 | 6/35 |
| T20I | 79 | 102 | 22.13 | 4/22 |
He’s amassed several major awards, highlighting his rising stature:
PCB Impactful Performance of the Year – 2021
ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year – 2021
Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy – First Pakistani to win it in 2021
PSL Achievements:
Bowler of the Tournament – PSL 2020 & 2022
Captaincy success – led Lahore Qalandars to 2022, 2023 & 2025 PSL titles
PSL 2025 Top Wicket-taker – 19 wickets, earned Bowler of Tournament in PSL 10 (Apr–May 2025)
Fastest to 100 ODI wickets for Pakistan – in 51 matches (Oct 2023)
