Shaheen Afridi claimed his 150th ODI wicket on October 25 when he dismissed England opener Tom Banton in the opening over of Pakistan's fourth match in the ongoing tri-series against England at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The left-arm pacer needed just 80 matches to reach the landmark, cementing his place as the fastest pace bowler from Pakistan to achieve the feat in the 50-over format. The breakthrough in the very first over of the match made the occasion even more memorable for the Pakistani speedster.
The milestone places Afridi among the quickest bowlers in ODI history to reach 150 wickets and makes him the second-fastest Pakistani bowler overall to the mark. Only former off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq has reached the milestone more quickly among all Pakistan bowlers. In doing so, Afridi joined India's Mohammed Shami and Afghanistan's Rashid Khan in an elite club of bowlers who have each taken 150 ODI wickets in 80 matches. His ability to swing the new ball and create early breakthroughs has long established him as one of the most dangerous fast bowlers in modern-day cricket, and the Banton dismissal was a fitting illustration of that quality.
Where does Shaheen rank among the fastest to 150 ODI wickets globally?
Among all bowlers in ODI history, Shaheen's tally of 80 matches to reach 150 wickets ties him with Shami and Rashid Khan. Former Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq remains ahead of Shaheen on the all-time list, having reached the landmark in 78 matches. Nepal's Sandeep Lamichhane leads the chart outright, completing the milestone in just 73 matches, while Australia's Mitchell Starc required 77 matches. New Zealand's Trent Boult took 81 matches, placing him just outside the trio of Shami, Rashid and Shaheen.
Fastest to 150 ODI Wickets
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73 matches: Sandeep Lamichhane (Nepal)
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77 matches: Mitchell Starc (Australia)
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78 matches: Saqlain Mushtaq (Pakistan)
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80 matches: Mohammed Shami (India), Rashid Khan (Afghanistan), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan)
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81 matches: Trent Boult (New Zealand)
How does Shaheen's ODI bowling strike rate compare among full-member nations?
Shaheen's impact in ODIs extends well beyond his wicket tally. Among bowlers from full-member nations who have taken at least 100 ODI wickets, Mohammed Shami leads the bowling strike rate rankings with a figure of 25.8. Shaheen follows closely at 26.3, while Pakistan teammate Haris Rauf occupies third place at 26.4. The Bowling Strike Rate List underlines how consistently Afridi has taken wickets at a rapid pace throughout his ODI career.
Reaching the 150-wicket mark alongside Shami and Rashid adds another remarkable chapter to Shaheen's international career. His capacity to deliver crucial breakthroughs with the new ball remains a key weapon for Pakistan, and the dismissal of Banton in the opening over on October 25 was a fitting way to mark the occasion.
