Twitter Reactions

'Al Habibi Afridi'- Fans react as Shaheen Shah Afridi joins Desert Vipers on a three-year contract for ILT20

Pakistan pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has signed with Desert Vipers for the second season of the UAE's International League (IL) T20.

author-image
Rohit Kumar
New Update
Shaheen Shah Afridi

Shaheen Shah Afridi (Source: Twitter)

Pakistan pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has signed with Desert Vipers for the second season of the UAE's T20 League (ILT20). He is the first Pakistani player to play in the league, which is set to take place in January next year. He has joined the franchise on a three-year contract.

The 23-year-old pacer has 229 wickets in the T20 format. With the season scheduled to begin on January 13, Afridi will join the franchise after returning from the Australian tour. Vipers were the runners-up in the inaugural season of ILT20.

I am excited to join the Desert Vipers: Shaheen Shah Afridi

A statement released by the Desert Vipers said, "All-format Pakistan superstar Shaheen Shah Afridi spearheads the new players' signings list for the DP World ILT20 Season 2. The fast bowler who has made a stunning impression around the world with his pacy left-arm deliveries will play for the inaugural season’s finalists Desert Vipers."

Vipers head coach Tom Moody said, "He offers a huge amount as an impact pace bowler that has destroyed many, many top orders and he also boasts terrific leadership skills that will add a huge amount of value to the Desert Vipers moving forward."

The Pakistan pacer, "I am excited to join the Desert Vipers. I know there are many Pakistan cricket fans in the UAE and I hope they will support our team in the upcoming ILT20."Β  He will join a bowling attack that already has the likes of Wanindu Hasaranga, Matheesha Pathirana, Tom Curran and Sheldon Cottrell.

Shaheen has made major improvements across formats after making his T20I debut in 2018. Last year, he was named Cricket Governing Body Player of the Year and received The Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy, the most prestigious yearly honour for a cricketer. He has 239 international wickets (105 Tests, 70 ODIs, and 64 T20Is).

He has a tendency for picking up wickets early in the innings. The 23-year-old has picked up 42 wickets in the first over in the shortest format. Vipers have retained many of their players after finishing runners-up in the inaugural season. The list includes captain Colin Munro and opener Alex Hales, who finished as the highest run-scorer of the tournament.

Here's how fans reacted

Shaheen Shah Afridi