Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi has set a new world record in ODI cricket with a stellar performance in the first ODI against West Indies at the Brian Lara Stadium.
Afridi claimed 4 wickets, taking his career tally to 131 wickets in just 65 ODIs — the fastest in history. The previous record holder was Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan, who reached 128 wickets in the same number of matches.
In the series opener, Pakistan chased down West Indies’ 281-run target with seven balls to spare, winning by five wickets. Hasan Nawaz, on ODI debut (cap 254), and Hussain Talat, making his comeback after six years, put on an unbeaten 104-run sixth-wicket partnership. Hasan scored 63* (5 fours, 3 sixes) while Hussain made 41* (4 fours, 1 six).
Pakistan’s innings was steadied by Mohammad Rizwan’s 53 and Babar Azam’s 47, with key contributions from Salman Ali Agha (23) and Abdullah Shafique (29). Rizwan’s 17th ODI fifty proved crucial before he was dismissed by Shamar Joseph, who took two wickets for the hosts.
Earlier, West Indies posted 280, led by Evin Lewis (60), Shai Hope (55), and another half-century from No. 6 batter Hope (53). A late 31 off 18 from Gudakesh Motie boosted their total.
The Pakistani pace duo, Shaheen (4-51) and Naseem Shah (3-55), orchestrated a late collapse, reducing West Indies from 200-4 to 280 all out. The spin trio of Salman Ali Agha, Saim Ayub, and Sufyan Moqim also claimed a wicket each.
