Shaheen Shah Afridi eyes successful Champions Trophy defence

Pakistan’s left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi expressed his determination to successfully defend the prestigious ICC Men’s Champions Trophy title, stating he wants to wear the iconic white jacket.

In a video shared by the apex cricketing body, Afridi recalled the national team’s historic victory in June 2017 after a one-sided final against arch-rivals India at The Oval.

The left-arm pacer revealed that he was playing Under-19 cricket for Pakistan back then and watched the blockbuster clash on TV.

“I was playing for Pakistan U-19 when we won the Champions Trophy in 2017. I watched that game on TV, and it was a special moment for our country,” he stated.

Shaheen Shah Afridi then shared his plans for the upcoming eight-team tournament, scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan from February 19 to March 9, and hailed experienced pacer Mohammad Amir and top-order batter Fakhar Zaman for their contributions in the final.

“I want us to wear that white coat again after the final this time. I can never forget Fakhar Zaman’s innings, which changed the game completely, and Mohammad Amir’s spell,” he added.

“Everyone contributed to the win, but those performances stand out. I believe it was a team effort, and we need that again. We want to win the title once more and keep the trophy at home.”

For the unversed, Zaman’s blistering century in the final helped Pakistan amass a massive total of 338/4 before Amir’s fierce opening spell dismantled India’s strong top order, which eventually resulted in the defending champions being bowled out for a meagre 158.