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Boom Boom or bust - is Afridi a genius or a clown?

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Pablo Luna - Moonlighting for Betfair. Pablo looks at the career of the most enigmatic man in world cricket.

Sahibzada Mohammad Shahid Khan Afridi (1 March 1980) known as Shahid Afridi, or by his nickname Boom Boom Afridi, is the most popular cricketer in Pakistan.

But the all-rounder provokes more than his fair share of adverse comments. This enigma has been called numerous names and just some of them include: clown, entertainer, fool, brilliant, disruptive, exciting, arrogant, awesome, cheat, artiste, conceited, explosive, irresponsible, aggressive. There are many more that would fit his profile. Should he still be strutting the International Cricket stage - the answer is a booming and resounding yes!

I have watched his magical innings in Nairobi against Sri Lanka on video many times where he scored the fastest hundred in cricket history (off 36 balls) including 11 sixes and 6 fours. Those shots were timed and a lot them were straight, they were authentic strokes! This was his first innings in an ODI match and at the age of 16 years old - astonishing!

He also shares with Brian Lara the record for the third fastest century in ODIs (off 45 balls). You cannot fluke those efforts and confirm that there is a genuine batsman hiding in that cranium.

In October 1996 he was brought into the ODI team as a legspinner for the injured Mushtaq Ahmed. He then gained notability as a pinch-hitter and began opening with Saeed Anwar. He struggles when batting on bouncy pitches and against opponents like Australia, although his record against the Australians has improved over time. It seems that his leg spin bowling has become more integral and important to Pakistan. Apart from turn and drift, he has a venomous faster delivery and is capable of bouncing a batsman out! He is also an exceptional fielder and has one of the best arms in the game.

He is a contradiction in that he is primarily considered a better one-day player but his statistics shows the opposite. In 247 ODIs he has scored just 4 centuries with 28 fifties averaging 23.43 which does seem meagre. His strike rate per 100 balls is an astounding 110.11 with a third of his boundaries coming in big sixes and this is without doubt the reason why he has got out early. I understand that before Bob Woolmer's sad death, he was trying to help Shahid with his shot selection/decision making. Whether he would have succeeded is anybody's guess! He has claimed 212 wickets with 89 catches in ODIs. He had the world record for hitting sixes but has since been passed by Jayasuriya. He is the only cricketer to have scored more than 5000 ODI runs but with an average of less than 25.

His 26 match Test career shows an average of 37.40 scoring 5 centuries and 8 fifties with a strike rate of 86.13. He has taken 47 wickets with 10 catches, testament to a high-quality cricketer.

Did success come too early for him? He looks like the type of player who needed guidance throughout his career but Pakistan cricket has not been a place for calm and perhaps he has not had the mentor he badly needed. Even now the selectors have not worked out his best batting position and he has subsequently been the victim of the yo yo (moving up and down the batting order. In this current ODI Series in three matches he has batted number 5, number 7 and number 2).

He would do well to recognise however that he is own worst enemy with his attitude to team-mates, supporters and authorities alike. His antics usually happen in front of the world press. He has clashed with his own players and supporters and in November 2005 Shahid Afridi was banned for a Test match and two one-day internationals for deliberately damaging the pitch against England. It was reprehensible and he should have had the book thrown at him. Do you think he should have apologised to the English players individually for his actions? I do! Blatant cheating is shameful.

The 3 match Test Series between India and Pakistan start on 22 November 2007 in Delhi and it will fascinating to see what role Alfridi has. Despite his mistakes, this nearly man of cricket makes compulsive viewing but you do wish it was his fabulous ability that was left in the memory.

In the 4th ODI on Thursday to be played Thursday I note that India are (1.78) with Betfair and Pakistan are (2.2) with Betfair. As so often happens, whether Afridi has a good or bad day at the office could well determine the outcome of the match.

To watch Afridi's record-breaking century go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7IsBJYrQks

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