Shahid Afridi is one of those cricketers who ought to feel completely at home in the Twenty20 format. The explosive Pakistani all-rounder isn't constrained by having to play even a single defensive stroke, can be more than handy with his rolled leg-spin and is an electric fielder, meeting every requirement that the Twenty20 game demands.
The 27-year-old warmed up nicely for Friday's marquee clash against India with a telling all-round display that won him the man of the match award in Wednesday's tie against Scotland . The maverick followed up a seven-ball 22 with four for 19, then stopped short of saying, “Bring on the Indians!”
Pakistan have never beaten India in World Cup cricket. “But this is Twenty20,” Afridi joked, almost suggesting that this was no World Cup! “It is true that India have always beaten us in World Cups, but in the Twenty20 game, anything can happen. All teams are fairly good, you can't afford to take even Bangladesh lightly.
“I am very keen to go out and play my own game, irrespective of the situation of the match. After all, you have only 20 overs to bat, and we have a very strong batting line-up. I am a huge fan of positive cricket and a positive approach, I love attacking cricket. I will try to carry my style forward.”
Afridi's 22 was a crucial knock in the context of the game, with Pakistan shackled by Scotland's bowlers. “Everyone knows that if Afridi bats for 10-15 balls, he wil get 40 to 50 runs,” he laughed, with no effort at false modesty. “But I have always thought of myself as a bowler who can also bat. I am more of a bowler than a batsman, whatever I get with the bat is a bonus.”
And what a bonus that is! Ask him if thoughts of a Twenty20 hundred have crossed his mind, and back comes the reply, “Haath me bandookh hai, chal gayi to chal gayi (I have a gun in my hand, if it goes off then it goes off!).” India, who have been at the receiving end of many an Afridi lashing, will be hoping it doesn't go off on Friday.
“Afridi is, no doubt, a dangerous player, especially in this form of the game,” said Indian left-arm pacer Rudra Pratap Singh, riding on the confidence gained from an excellent tour of England. “We have discussed Afridi, and have our plans in place. We have planned our field positions for him; the key now will be to bowl to the field.”
Another left-arm medium-pacer, Irfan Pathan, has had several face-offs with the Pakistani Pathan from Khyber Agency. “You can't target any single batsman, any batsman can be dangerous because he has the license to go for his shots,” Pathan remarked, refusing to rise to the Afridi bait. “I have the confidence that I am bowling well. When you have confidence in your ability, you can dismiss any batsman. Whoever comes out to bat, you need to bowl at him, and bowl well.”