[WATCH] Shaheen Afridi gets the prized scalp of Babar Azam in Champions Cup 2024 Stallions vs Lions match
Shaheen Afridi secured the key scalp of Babar Azam during the Champions Cup game on Friday, September 13. Shaheen is leading the Lions outfit against Babar's Stallions in the second game of the competition at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad.
The Stallions opted to bat first and had a 35-run opening stand between Shan Masood and Yasir Khan (13). Masood was looking well set at the crease, but the Pakistan Test captain perished for 41 off 53.
Thereafter, Babar and Tayyab Tahir were impressive as the opposition bowlers couldn't do much on a flat track. However, Shaheen broke the 114-run stand by dismissing Babar in the 35th over.
Shaheen pitched the ball short, to which Babar tried to clear the deep square leg boundary. Although, the star batter made a sweet connection, the ball could only find the hands of Faisal Akram at the fence. Shaheen brought in his trademark celebration to send Babar packing for a well-compiled 76 off 79.
Watch the dismissal below:
Shaheen went to end with figures of 2-63 off 10 overs, while Aamer Jamal also registered two scalps as Stallions made 336. Apart from Babar Azam, Tayyab impressed with a knock of 74 off 72. Later, skipper Mohammad Haris and Hussain Talat scored fifties for the side.
At the time of writing, Lions are 53-3, with Sharoon Siraj and Imam-ul-Haq at the crease.
Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi have had a forgettable last few months
Two key pillars of Pakistan Cricket, Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi have been going through a lean patch, failing to win games for their country. The T20 World Cup saw Babar return with only 90 runs in three innings, while Shaheen bagged only two wickets as Pakistan failed to reach the Super 8 stage.
Thereafter, the side were whitewashed 2-0 at home by Bangladesh. Babar faced wrath from fans after registering knocks of 0, 22, 31 and 11 in the series, while Shaheen played only the first Test and registered figures of 2-88 and 0-8.