Afridi loves to entertain crowds

KARACHI: Flamboyant and controversial, Shahid Afridi came to the world's notice as a 16-year-old when he blasted the fastest century in a one-day match from 37 balls against the helpless Sri Lankans. Fourteen years on and now Pakistan captain, Afridi still enjoys playing to the gallery.

"I love entertaining the crowds. I know people come to watch me hit the sixers," he said.

"But after becoming captain I have tried to be more sensible while batting or bowling. I want victories for the team not just individual laurels." Added Afridi.

Afridi has never been short of talent and is a veteran of 312 one-day internationals. He is a hard-hitting batsman capable of savaging any attack on his day and good enough to pick up 292 one-day wickets with his leg-spin.

Afridi will have to produce the same sort of inspirational performances as he did in the 2009 T20 World Cup for Pakistan to have a chance of doing well in the forthcoming World Cup.

The all-rounder picked up the man of the match awards in the semi-final and final as he fired on all cylinders with bat and ball to give Pakistan the title.

"That T20 World Cup win was memorable for me and my team mates but personally winning the 50-overs World Cup this year would be a far greater achievement for me," Afridi told Reuters before leaving for the New Zealand tour in December.

Attacking instincts

Given the responsibility of captaining Pakistan's T20 and one-day sides since last year, Afridi has been chastised by many former players for his refusal to curb his natural attacking instincts or his penchant to hit sixes. He holds the world record for the most sixes in ODIs with 288.

Afridi has nevertheless brought countless moments of joy for his countrymen. He was touring the West Indies with the Pakistan youth team in October 2006 when he was rushed to Nairobi to join the injury-hit senior team for a triangular one-day series that featured Sri Lanka and instantly made his mark with the rapid century.

He has also run into controversy. In 2005, while playing the Faisalabad test against England, he was caught on camera scraping the pitch with his boots and was promptly banned for one test and two ODIs.

Last year in Australia, frustrated by a string of defeats, the cameras caught him out again, this time chewing on one side of the ball in the final ODI at Perth as he led the side in the absence of Muhammad Yousuf.

The resulting punishment was a ban of two matches and a fine by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).     Afridi wasted no time in apologising for his action and soon won back the hearts of his fans.

"He has so much natural talent but I don't think he has done justice to it. This World Cup is his chance of achieving something significant for himself and his team," former captain Javed Miandad said.