Pakistan’s pace sensation Shaheen Afridi has finally spoken out about his intense confrontation with Matthew Breetzke during the ODI tri-nation series match between Pakistan and South Africa. The incident, which occurred in the 28th over, saw Shaheen deliberately stepping into Breetzke’s path as the South African batter attempted a quick single. This led to unwanted physical contact and a fiery argument between the two players.
Shaheen Afridi’s Perspective on the Altercation
Clarifying the situation, Shaheen admitted that his actions were deliberate, as he was attempting to distract Breetzke and create a chance to take his wicket. However, he emphasized that there were no hard feelings after the match, and both players shook hands in a gesture of sportsmanship.
“Matthew didn’t react much, but I was trying to tease him a little to break his focus. Whatever happened stayed within the field. After the match, we met, shook hands, and are now on good terms,” Shaheen revealed in an interview with Geo News.
Despite Shaheen downplaying the on-field incident, the ICC disciplinary panel took action against him. The ICC found him guilty of violating Article 2.12 of the Code of Conduct, which prohibits inappropriate physical contact with any player, umpire, or match official. As a consequence, they fined Shaheen 25% of his match fee.
Pakistan’s Struggles in the Death Overs Exposed
Aside from addressing his exchange with Matthew Breetzke, Shaheen also spoke about Pakistan’s recent struggles in the death overs, which have been a major concern in the ongoing tri-series.
Pakistan’s bowlers have found it challenging to contain runs in the final phase of the innings. The problem became evident in their match against New Zealand, where Shaheen and Naseem Shah were tasked with bowling the last four overs. However, they failed to contain Glenn Phillips, who launched an explosive assault, scoring 71 runs in just four overs.
A similar pattern followed in Pakistan’s encounter against South Africa. This time, bowlers Naseem Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, and Khushdil Shah were responsible for closing out the innings but ended up conceding 46 runs in the final four overs. This late onslaught propelled South Africa to a mammoth total of 352/5.
Shaheen Afridi Admits the Need for Improvement
Addressing Pakistan’s death-over struggles, Shaheen acknowledged that the team has been underperforming in crunch moments and needs to fix these weaknesses.
“We accept that our performance in the last few overs hasn’t been up to the mark. We need to improve and execute better strategies,” Shaheen admitted.
With the ODI tri-nation series serving as an important preparation ground for future international tournaments, Pakistan’s inability to contain runs in the final overs has raised serious concerns. If they fail to tighten their bowling attack, the team could face significant challenges in upcoming global events.
Final Thoughts
While Shaheen Afridi’s clash with Matthew Breetzke made headlines, Pakistan’s death-over weaknesses remain a bigger concern. Shaheen has cleared the air about the on-field spat, but the focus now shifts to Pakistan’s bowling unit, which must regroup and work on finishing matches more effectively. As international competitions draw closer, the team’s ability to execute their bowling plans in crucial moments will play a decisive role in their success.