Fast bowler Shaheen Afridi has etched his name into the record books, achieving a remarkable milestone for Pakistan. He secured his 18th consecutive wicket in One Day Internationals (ODIs) during the 8th match of the ICC World Cup against Sri Lanka.
In this closely watched encounter at the Rajiv Gandhi Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad, Sri Lanka’s opening pair, Kusal Perera and Pathum Nissanka, struggled to establish a strong foundation. The wickets kept falling, with Kasun Mendis becoming a victim of Hasan Ali’s bowling at 122 runs. Hasan Ali didn’t stop there, immediately dismissing Isuru Udana for just 1 run on the following delivery. Sri Lanka ultimately posted a formidable total of 344 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in their allocated 50 overs. This marked the highest target ever set against Pakistan in a World Cup match.
Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, expressed unwavering determination to continue their winning streak and secure victory. Both teams made changes to their lineups, with Sri Lanka substituting Kusal Rajitha with Mahesh Thikshana, and Pakistan bringing Abdullah Shafique into the fold in place of Fakhar Zaman. This contest marked the 8th meeting between these two teams in World Cup matches, with Pakistan maintaining a perfect 7-0 advantage over Sri Lanka.