One of the tallest and arguably one of the most talented left-arm pacers, Shaheen Shah Afridi has limitless potential. Having so much variety at such a young age made Afridi quite a popular cricketer in Pakistan.

In early 2017, Afridi came into the picture with his tall stature and ability to bowl 90+ mph, and also for the long handle he possesses down the order. In December 2016, he was added to the squad of Pakistan for the U19 Asia Cup and scalped 3 wickets for 21 runs in his debut game against Singapore. Seeing his performances in the tournament, Dhaka Dynamites signed him for a two-year contract in the Bangladesh Premier League.

Afridi’s introduction to first-class cricket was an explosive one for Khan Research Laboratories, where he picked up 8 wickets in the 2nd innings against Rawalpindi on 26th September 2017, but ended up on the losing side. 

Later in December 2017, Afridi was added to Pakistan’s squad for the 2018 ICC U19 Cricket World Cup. With his pace and bounce, the youngster picked up 12 wickets in the tournament and was the leading wicket-taker for Pakistan. 

Following this remarkable performance, Afridi was picked up by the PSL giant Lahore Qalandars before the 2018 edition of the PSL. He rattled Multan Sultan with a five-wicket haul with his career-best performance in the T20 format. He picked 5 for just 4 runs and was declared the 'Man of the Match'.

Afridi got a call from the senior side in March 2019 when he was named in the squad for their upcoming series against the West Indies. He made his T20I debut against the West Indies in April 2018 but had a poor start to his career, though Pakistan ended up on the winning side. Afridi made his ODI debut in the 2018 Asia Cup against Afghanistan in September 2018 and took 3 wickets.

Afridi’s career-defining moment came after he became the youngest bowler to pick up a five-wicket haul in a World Cup game. Afridi’s figure of 6/35 was the best by a Pakistani bowler in the prestigious tournament.

One of Afridi's most remarkable displays came during Pakistan's opening match against India in October 2021 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Pakistan relied on Afridi's exceptional bowling to dismantle India's top order, taking crucial wickets of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli, who had scored 57 runs. His contributions were vital in Pakistan's undefeated run in the group stage and their progression to the semi-finals. Shaheen Shah Afridi's exceptional performances throughout the year were recognised globally when he was awarded the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy as the ICC Men's Cricketer of the Year. 

Ahead of PSL 2022, Shaheen Shah Afridi, at just 21 years old, was appointed captain of the Lahore Qalandars. Under his leadership, the team clinched its first PSL title, defeating the Multan Sultans by 42 runs in the final. This victory made Afridi the youngest captain to win a major T20 league, surpassing Steve Smith's previous record. He then helped the franchise bag another victory in the subsequent season before helping Lahore win the 2025 title as well. 

In March 2022, Afridi played a pivotal role in Pakistan's historic Test series against Australia—the first between the two nations on Pakistani soil in 24 years. Afridi's performance was instrumental in Pakistan's efforts.

In August 2022, the paceman was ruled out of the Asia Cup after sustaining a knee ligament injury which he sustained during the Galle Test in Sri Lanka.

Afridi made a remarkable comeback from injury in the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup, playing a pivotal role in Pakistan's journey to the final. In the final against England, Afridi's early dismissal of Alex Hales was crucial, but he unfortunately sustained a knee injury during the match, impacting his performance.

Afridi was a key component of Pakistan's bowling attack in the ACC Asia Cup 2023, contributing to the team's journey to the final. However, the multi-national Asia Cup saw a dip in Shaheen’s form. 

The left-arm seamer was handed Pakistan’s T20I captaincy ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024, but he was axed from his role ahead of the showpiece tournament, where Pakistan faced an embarrassing loss to the USA.

Later in PSL 2025, Shaheen helped the Lahore Qalandars snap their third title. 

Meanwhile, the left-arm paceman has been out of favour from Pakistan’s setup. 

(As of March 2025)