This week's "Beyond the Boundary" discusses the flair and characteristics that come with Shahid Afridi when he plays for the Pakistan cricket team and takes a look at other players in international cricket that fit a similar mold.

by Hadeel Obaid (11th August, 2013)

It takes guts to be an Afridi. One must be fearless, irrational and possess the kind of intimidating demeanor that riddles your competitor which way. There are no thinkers and strategists that belong to this brand; they do not calculate, they simply persevere in their path of destruction, be it the opposition or their own downfall. Afridi is no longer one man; he is a global phenomenon, an icon of hope for the disheartened Pakistani fan and a brand that has molded many a player in today’s game. To be Afridi is to be passionate and to dedicate yourself to being the most electrifying entertainer there is in the game drawing in even the most cynical spectators.

On July 14th 2013, Shahid Afridi walked onto the crease with 5 wickets down, an abysmal score card and a point to prove. Social media rightly termed that day “Lala Day” for what a game he had. The mother of all comebacks, Afridi went from his worst ever bowling figures to the best, shattering records and becoming the only batsman to score more than 50 runs and taking a 5 wicket haul in the same game thrice. Afridi is a game changer, a hit or a miss, but on a good day, no matter how brilliant the opposition or how solid their game plan, he can singlehandedly change a match on its head. Afridi commands attention, he is bold, built for entertainment and has an entire world of cricket lovers hooked.

Afridi has an energy that is infectious. Dramatic catches, over the shoulder sixes and of course his signature victory pose are all part of his aura. Almost every country has their own version of Afridi, some may be more dependable, others even more erratic but they all possess an attitude, an audience and a level of confidence that keeps the opposition rattled. 

The West Indies has quite possibly the most accurate Afridi counterpart in their line up. Kieron Pollard is handy with the ball but potentially destructive with the bat. He has the pizazz of an Afridi. Be it his memorable catches at the IPL or his aggressive nature, Pollard is every bit as irrational in his stance and on a good day when the wicket clicks, we see fireworks. On July 1st, against a helpless New Zealand, Pollard was ruthless, unleashing 63 off 29 starting off with 2 sixes of the first 3 balls he faced; casual, amused, a match winner.

In 2005, a scruffy Mahendra Singh Dhoni walked onto the crease against archrivals Pakistan with flair of confidence few new comers had in these circumstances. He walked off that day with an unrelenting 148 off 123 balls. Unflinching, with no hesitation, Dhoni reached Afridi status. Aggressive, attacking and with little regard to the scorecard, Dhoni is the God of the Indians and the fear of the opposition. In the recently concluded Tri-nation series, Dhoni annihilated a brilliant Sri Lankan bowling line up. With 9 wickets down, he scored 45 off 52 unfazed by the movement around him. Dhoni thinks big. Dhoni hits big. Dhoni is to India what Afridi is to Pakistan and every time he walks onto the crease, his fans expect moments of magic regardless of how dark the situation.

The English have Kevin Pietersen. The name itself demands respect. When the English team was flailing for years, he rode in, their knight in shining cricket gear. He was merciless, arrogant and often riddled with drama both on and off the field. He reinvented English cricket leaving even the most brilliant bowlers dumbfounded. In 2005 against an invincible Australia, Kevin Pietersen entered the match when all hope was lost and showcased his brutality scoring 91 off 65, stealing the match and sealing victory. As his career progressed, he eluded a sense of surety that gave the team spunk. Every time he walked onto that crease, sparks would fly, bowlers would quake and boundaries were a sure sight. Kevin Pietersen is a hero by nature and an Afridi by blood including his ECB retirement antics!

In 2007, after being taunted by Andrew Flintoff, Yuvraj Singh massacred Stuart Broad with 6 sixes in an over scoring the fastest 50 in the history of the game in all formats. This was his Afridi moment. He could always tackle bowlers, he had a knack of swinging the ball across the rope but on that particular day, he embodied Afridi in every sense of the word. Boundaries not words fought back. More recently in 2012, he scored 72 off 36 in a T20 against Pakistan shifting the momentum and eventually winning it for India. This is a man of strength, admired and from what I understand a legend at home. Afridi is marveled in India, Yuvraj is a favorite in Pakistan.

Afridis are enigmatic and powerful figures of authority. They aren’t aware of inhibitions. They hunt opportunities and seek victories. They belong in every team, in all shapes and sizes, unique in their approach but with a common energy and belief that emulates their significance. The Boom Boom boys cannot be trained, they are born game changers.

It is hard not to love an Afridi. Their love spills over borders. That is the beauty of their charisma, be it Shakib-Al Hasan or AB De Villiers, Pakistan vs. India or a game between minnows, spectators are simply hungry for more. The world may have their versions, but between his flying kisses and patriotism, ball-biting drama and Boom- Boom brand, On July 14th 2013, Pakistanis were jolted and cricket lovers reminded why he’s the original and what it means to be Shahid Afridi.

Discuss!