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Shaheen Afridi is often compared with former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir by cricket circles, and most of the time, fans of both pacers defend their role model. We will compare both of them based on their Asia Cup performances and impact in this piece.
The Pakistan cricket team has kicked off their T20I Asia Cup 2025 campaign in style, beating Oman by a big margin of 93 runs. Defending 160 runs, Green Shirts bowled out the opposition on 67 runs, while the leader of the bowling attack, Shaheen, took one wicket in his four overs, conceding 20 runs with an economy of five.
Shaheen Shah Afridi vs Mohammad Amir Asia Cup stats:
Shaheen Shah Afridi’s Asia Cup record:
Shaheen Shah Afridi made his debut in international cricket on April 03, 2018, in a T20I match against West Indies at Karachi, recording figures of 0/27 in his four-over quota, and started his One Day International (ODI) career against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup 2018, replacing Mohammad Amir in a match where he recorded figures of 2/38 in 10 overs.
Shaheen has featured in three Asia Cup tournaments in his seven-and-a-half-year cricket career, including the ongoing event in the T20I format in the UAE. Interestingly, the left-arm pacer is playing for the first time in the T20I edition of the Asia Cup 2025.
The Asia Cup 2018 was the tournament where he started off his journey, registering four wickets in three matches with an economy rate of 4.88 and best figures of 2/38.
Notably, in August 2022, the 25-year-old was ruled out of the Asia Cup, which was played in T20I format to prepare for the T20I World Cup in Australia in October.
Afridi, who was the spearhead of Pakistan’s pace battery at that time, sustained a right knee ligament injury during the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle in July 2022.
‘The Eagle’ was badly missed in that edition of the Asia Cup as Pakistan lost the final to a weak Sri Lankan side.
Green Shirts dismissed five batters of the opposition on 58 runs bowling first, but Sri Lanka went on to score 170/6 in allotted overs and bowled out Pakistan for 147 in 20 overs defending the score successfully.
Shaheen Afridi’s inclusion in T20I World Cup 2022:
The left-arm pacer’s inclusion in the Pakistan squad for the T20I World Cup in Australia was dependent on his recovery from a knee injury. He completed his rehabilitation in London and joined the team in Brisbane in October 2022, and declared himself available for warm-up matches against England and Afghanistan.
Shaheen played the World Cup, but it appeared during the event that he had not fully recovered, as he was still slightly limping during some matches, and his injury resurfaced in the final of the tournament against England, and he could not complete his spell.
After his injury in Sri Lanka, we unfortunately did not witness the same Afridi who stunned the world with his spell against India in the 2021 T20I World Cup, getting the wickets of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul with unbelievable deliveries and also sending Virat Kohli back to the dugout.
Shaheen stats in 2023 Asia Cup:
Asia Cup 2023 was played in ODI format, keeping in mind the World Cup in the same format in the same year in India. He was impressive in the tournament with his 10 wickets in five matches with an economy of 5.73, average of 23.50, strike rate of 24.6, and best figures of 4/35 against India, but failed to deliver in pressure situations.
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Overall, in Asia Cups, Shaheen has picked 15 wickets in 9 matches, including the ODI and T20I formats.
If we look at his current form, ‘The Eagle’ is looking in rhythm under head coach Mike Hesson, and new captain Salman Ali Agha, and will be crucial for Pakistan in the ongoing T20I Asia Cup.
Mohammad Amir’s Asia Cup record:
Pakistan’s former left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Amir started his career with a bang in the T20I World Cup 2009, winning the ICC trophy in his very first tournament. He made his debut against England at The Oval on June 07, 2009, in the same event, registering figures of 1/31 in three overs.
Amir played his first Asia Cup event in 2010 under the leadership of Shahid Afridi, where he played two matches and took two wickets with an average of 56.50, a strike rate of 59.50, and an economy of 5.69 with best figures of 2/57 against Sri Lanka in a match which the Green Shirts lost by 16 runs.
Spot fixing scandal:
Amir, who was considered the future of Pakistan cricket at that time, got involved in a spot-fixing scandal, and Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif, and Amir were banned for spot-fixing during Pakistan’s tour of England in 2010. They were caught red-handed during the fourth Test at Lord’s.
All the cricketers involved in the 2010 spot fixing scandal were handed minimum five-year bans, while Butt was also given a two-year suspended sentence.
However, Amir was granted an early return to domestic cricket by the International Cricket Council (ICC) following cooperation with the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU).
The fast bowler vowed a new beginning and said that he would return as a reformed player.
“This is the best day of my life as the last five years have been a big lesson for me,” Amir told Reuters.
“I don’t just want to get back as a top cricketer but also as a better human being who has reformed himself.
“I need just a month or so to get back to match fitness, but it is yet to be decided when and with which team I will resume playing cricket.”
Mohammad Amir’s comeback:
Mohammad Amir returned to domestic cricket in March 2015 and made a comeback to international cricket in January 2016 in Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand in a T20I match.
Mohammad Amir’s devastating spell in T20I Asia Cup 2016:
Amir then delivered a memorable spell against India in a T20I Asia Cup 2016 encounter in which Pakistan were bowled out on 83 runs in 17.3 overs.
Defending 83, Amir delivered a devastating spell, removing the top order’s batters Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane for ducks and also removing Suresh Raina in his second over. However, Virat Kohli anchored India’s chase with a 49-run inning off 51 balls, leading his team to a five-wicket victory.
However, Mohammad Amir’s spell of 3/18 in four overs was lauded all over the cricketing world and helped him reclaim his lost recognition and stature.
Amir finished the 2016 Asia Cup as the fourth-highest wicket-taker with seven wickets in four matches.
Amir’s dismal performance in ODI Asia Cup 2018:
The left-arm pacer was also part of Pakistan’s 2018 ODI Asia Cup squad, but he failed to impress in that edition of the event, going wicketless in three matches he played, and was dropped from the Pakistan team for the Test series against Australia in October 2018 in the United Arab Emirates(UAE).
Overall, Mohammad Amir has nine wickets to his name in Asia Cups including both 50 over and shorter format of the tournaments.
If we compare the stats and performances of both pacers in the Asia Cups, Shaheen is ahead due to his wickets tally and the number of matches he has played, however has no match-winning spells against big teams. Though, Amir had a good outing against India in the 2016 Asia Cup, his effort was not enough to win the match for Pakistan.
