A striking stat has lit up the rivalry. Shaheen Shah Afridi now has more sixes against India in T20Is than Babar Azam, Ahmed Shehzad, Imran Nazir, Umar Akmal, Fakhar Zaman, Shahid Afridi, and Kamran Akmal.
He has done it in fewer balls than all of them, underscoring rare hitting efficiency for a frontline fast bowler.
Bowling spearhead outguns specialist batters for power
Shaheen usually walks in late with limited deliveries to face. Yet his clean swing and strong base let him clear the rope with authority. The comparison list includes proven strokemakers and finishers, which makes the achievement stand out even more.
It also shows how modern T20 roles blur. A tail-ender on the team sheet can turn into a decisive finisher when the moment comes.
While another unusual record witnessed in today’s match between Pakistan and India.
Saim Ayub equals Babar’s unfortunate record in T20’s
Pakistan opener Saim Ayub recorded a first-ball duck against India in the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup, matching an unwanted mark in the national list.
Hardik Pandya beat him with a length ball shaping away, and a tentative poke flew to Jasprit Bumrah at point. It was Saim’s seventh duck in T20Is, drawing him level with Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, and Kamran Akmal for the joint third-most by a Pakistan batter.
Umar Akmal tops the list with ten, while Shahid Afridi has eight.
The number underlines the risk-reward nature of opening in T20s, where intent can bring either early boundaries or early exits.
First-ball dismissal brings seventh T20I duck for Saim
The moment arrived in a charged contest at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Pakistan chose to bat but lost their left-hander at once, which set a cautious tone for the early overs.
Saim’s tally now reads seven ducks in 43 matches, alongside Babar’s seven in 128, Hafeez’s seven in 119, and Kamran’s seven in 58.
Strike roles, matchups, and powerplay fields create different risk profiles for each player. One ball can tilt numbers in this format, yet form often turns quickly for stroke-makers who back their method.
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