Pakistan's left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Afridi continued his superb rise in international cricket, adding the Pakistan Super League title to his growing list of accolades. Afridi enjoyed a stellar 2021, picking up 78 wickets in 36 international matches at an average of 22.20. His performances earned him <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/cricket/2022/01/24/shaheen-afridi-first-pakistan-player-and-youngest-ever-to-be-named-icc-cricketer-of-year/" target="_blank">the ICC cricketer of the year award</a>. Not only did the 21-year-old become the first player from Pakistan to win the award, he was the youngest to do so. The fast bowler aced the captaincy test as well this year, leading Lahore Qalandars to the PSL 2022 title. In the final on Sunday, former Pakistan allrounder Mohammad Hafeez starred in Lahore's 42-run win over Multan Sultans. The 41-year-old scored a 46-ball 69 to guide Qalandars to 180-5 in front of a packed 30,000 Gaddafi stadium. Hafeez then chipped in with wickets of in-form opener Mohammad Rizwan (14) and Aamer Azmat (six) to help dismiss the defending champions for 138 in 19.3 overs. Lahore were once the league's eternal wooden-spoon, finishing last in the first four editions before reaching the final in 2020. Now, under Afridi, they have risen to the top. He also finished as the top wicket-taker in the league with 20 scalps. “It was a difficult responsibility when I was appointed captain, but thanks to family [and] Hafeez who supported throughout and everyone in the team,” Afridi said. “I want to give credit to everyone in the team as all of them put up their hands and contributed at different times.” In the final, Hafeez struck nine boundaries and a six during his knock, lifting Qalandars from a struggling 25-3 through a fourth-wicket stand of 54 with Kamran Ghulam (15) and another 58 for the next with Harry Brook who made 41 not out from 22 balls. In the chase, Shan Masood was run out by a direct throw from Fakhar Zaman for 19. Qalandars had managed to separate the prolific opening pair for Masood and Rizwan, raising hopes of victory. From 63-5, Tim David (27) and Khushdil Shah (32) gave the champions hope, but Qalandars captain Afridi sealed the win with wickets of Rumman Raees and David Willey to finish with 3-30. Multan captain and Pakistan's batting mainstay Rizwan credited Lahore for handling the pressure situation better. "Lahore, along with us, deserved to win. Others were great in parts but we were consistently and thought it was fair that they won," Rizwan said. "The difference between the two sides was that they played better in pressure situations." Afridi and Rizwan will now shift their focus to the Australia Test series, which starts on March 4. The Aussies are visiting Pakistan for the first time in 24 years.
