The Sheer Appeal of Shahid Afridi! - Anyone else come close to crowd appeal?

[DM]

Despite his batting clicking just once in the tournament, today was an amazing example of Afridi's appeal and how it'll continue regardless. From Cricinfo commentary:

[When 2 set batsmen were in and batting in the 40s]
The crowd chant for "Boom Boom Afridi"

This is when there were TWO SET BATSMEN IN!!! then:


"Hit out or get out!! Afridi is waiting in the dugout," rhymes Jagdhis

then

"The crowd begins to roar as Afridi walks in."


:))) :))) what appeal this guy has. Whatever his minority of detractors say about him, everyone knows exactly what this mutant has on his mind. There will be no holding back at all. And when it fires, there's simply nothing like it in the world!

Seriously speaking, apart from Tendulkar in India, is there anyone else who commands such attention/activity/enthusiasm from the crowd? Every time Afridi comes out to bat, the crowd literally get rabid and the stadium erupts!

[Ghoshtbuster]

Great thread.

He plays the game in a way which the average armchair supporter can relate to. Sixes, fours and wickets.

Also, he played 2 innings of some significance.

[Indiafan]

Yep, he has the same appeal as Sachin has over the world.

[cars112]

I think he's the biggest crowd puller over the world - there are several players who are popular in their own countries, but everyone loves Afridi's style and passion. That doesn't mean he's the BEST player in the world, but he is undoubtedly the most EXCITING. Shoaib is the other one, but Afridi's appeal is even greater than Shoaib's, which is saying something!

[DM]

Exactly, and the thing is, even if he didn't have 2 significant innings, even if he got zero every single innings in the tournament, the crowd would still have wanted him to come in!

His mindset is exposed for all to see. He hides nothing. He doesn't want to play himself in, he's there for blood and only blood from ball one.

His refusal to conform to batting etiquette is absolute. The crowd understand that and loves him for it.

[ca_gold]

his failures as a batsmen are made up for the fact that he is a crowd puller. that is fine for the IPL, as the whole point is to entertain. in real cricket, this aspect really shoundt be a factor should it?

[DM]

his failures as a batsmen are made up for the fact that he is a crowd puller. that is fine for the IPL, as the whole point is to entertain. in real cricket, this aspect really shoundt be a factor should it?
must resist urge to write post about anatomically-inclined criteria for real cricket according to the beast

[Ghoshtbuster]

his failures as a batsmen are made up for the fact that he is a crowd puller. that is fine for the IPL, as the whole point is to entertain. in real cricket, this aspect really shoundt be a factor should it?
Real cricket?

Is that the one where he averages 37 with a SR of 86?

[cars112]

Real cricket?

Is that the one where he averages 37 with a SR of 86?

:))) :))) :)))

Top stuff

[DM]

edit- must resist beast posts to keep thread in this forum :D

[ca_gold]

if you actually read the post, you would see that im asking a question, not advocating his removal from the test team.

[drkilljoy]

Dream on my son, for Nostrils of Love himself will be playing in the next Pak match
The Jurassic Duck Sniper missed his mark by 1 today but it wont get away next time.

http://66.232.99.210/images/duckhunt_big.gif

[cars112]

who carez about Deccan Chargers hes a part of Pakistan Team...an will always remain...and I guess hes one of the top performers for Team Pakistan ...IPL isnt something special theres just about MONEY MONEY AND MONEY

Exactly, Afridi will kill the Indians as he always does, who cares about the IPL anyways

[Ghoshtbuster]

if you actually read the post, you would see that im asking a question, not advocating his removal from the test team.
You suggest that "entertainment" should not be a factor for real cricket.

If you believe that, then you know nothing about Pakistan cricket.

[Saj]

Malikbrother.

This thread is about his crowd appeal, please stick to topic.

[ca_gold]

You suggest that "entertainment" should not be a factor for real cricket.

If you believe that, then you know nothing about Pakistan cricket.


So, leaving afridi out of this context (he should be part of the test team), if one does not perform in ODI/Test Cricket, should they still be part of the team on the sole basis that they provide "entertainment"? That is actually what I was suggesting, not that entertainment should not be a part of cricket.
entertainment in cricket usually coincides with cricketing results, except in the IPL, which is what my original post was alluding to. Instead of making a blanketing statement about my knowledge of pakistani cricket, as a logical counter point, how about debating whether someone should be part of a team on the sole basis of providing "entertainment" value?

[Saj]

I think the appeal is largely down to the "unknown" factor, i.e. you just dont know what is going to happen next.

It could be the worst shot in the world, it could be an outrageous 6, it could be a great deivery, it could be a half tracker - you just never know.

[Manish26]

I hope they will not renew his contract for next year and look for another overseas player preferably Peterson or Flintoff

[Ghoshtbuster]

So, leaving afridi out of this context (he should be part of the test team), if one does not perform in ODI/Test Cricket, should they still be part of the team on the sole basis that they provide "entertainment"? That is actually what I was suggesting, not that entertainment should not be a part of cricket.
I see. I agree with this. You are right.

entertainment in cricket usually coincides with cricketing results, except in the IPL, which is what my original post was alluding to
I dont think entertainment and results are related.

[Uzzy]

I think the appeal is largely down to the "unknown" factor, i.e. you just dont know what is going to happen next.

It could be the worst shot in the world, it could be an outrageous 6, it could be a great deivery, it could be a half tracker - you just never know.

The way hes been batting in this IPL I think most would know that it will always be the same outcome.

[AarifAfridi]

what happen to Afridi .
he his not performinng well .

[The Blazer]

Good points made here by the Beast Brigade.

I've only gone to see Afridi play once. In that same match, Sachin, Lara, Dhoni and Inzamam were playing. No one, literally no one, got a big a roar from the crowd as Shahid did when he came out to bat.

For the men he's a cricketing god, for the women he's a sex symbol. His sheer magnetism and aura is what draws the crowds in. From now on, I'm never going to miss a match in England when Afridi plays!

[DM]

Confirmed! It appears he's Pakistan's favourite cricketer - Dawn took an opinion poll last year:

http://www.dawn.com/2007/08/14/top1.htm
CRICKET: Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi and Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar are the most popular cricketers in the two countries.

Pakistanis’ favourite cricketer is Shahid Afridi, followed by Imran Khan and Shoaib Akhtar while Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid are their favourite Indian cricketers.

Shahid Afridi, Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar are the three most popular Pakistani players in India.

[Oxy]

I posted something on PakPassion 2 years back about how the PCB should be taking advantage of the 'Afridi Factor', esp when he was doing well in test v India.

Missed opportunity.

ECB did it with Flintoff - shamelesslessly exploited his image & name - and it worked.

Crowds were up. Viewing figures went up. ECB merchandise / Sky subscriptions etc etc etc.

Probably too late now.

[DM]

The Shear Appeal Of Shahid Afridi

http://www.karlschatz.com/yearofthegoat/photos/040130_3540.jpg

[The Blazer]

Just noticed this! :))) :))) :))) :))) :))) :))) :)))

You cold-blooded mammal! :))) :))) :)))

[Fish]

Warne is a crowd favorite in Australia, during his ban for for diuretics crowds would still chant for Warnie. MCG 95000 fans and Warnie takes the ball, nothing compares to the roar.

[DM]

I posted something on PakPassion 2 years back about how the PCB should be taking advantage of the 'Afridi Factor', esp when he was doing well in test v India.

Missed opportunity.

ECB did it with Flintoff - shamelesslessly exploited his image & name - and it worked.

Crowds were up. Viewing figures went up. ECB merchandise / Sky subscriptions etc etc etc.

Probably too late now.Never too late for Mr ***Shahid "Eternally 24" Afridi***

:afridi

[Farhad]

Warne is a crowd favorite in Australia, during his ban for for diuretics crowds would still chant for Warnie. MCG 95000 fans and Warnie takes the ball, nothing compares to the roar.

I reckon roar for Lillie was louder when he used to bowl his hostile spells.