Shaheen Afridi reaches 150 ODI wickets fastest among Pakistan fast bowlers
Synopsis
Shaheen Afridi broke a record that stood in the names of Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar — becoming Pakistan's fastest fast bowler to 150 ODI wickets, reaching the mark in just 80 matches. He now sits joint-fourth globally alongside Rashid Khan and Mohammed Shami, and the milestone came with the first ball needed, dismissing Tom Banton in the opening over against England.
Key Takeaways
Shaheen Afridi reached 150 ODI wickets in his 80th match on 25 October 2026 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore .
He is the quickest Pakistan fast bowler to the landmark, breaking the joint record of Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar (both 91 matches ).
Among all Pakistan bowlers, only Saqlain Mushtaq ( 78 ODIs ) reached the milestone faster.
Globally, Shaheen is joint-fourth , level with Rashid Khan and Mohammed Shami ; Sandeep Lamichhane ( 73 ODIs ) leads the world list.
The milestone wicket was Tom Banton , dismissed in the first over; Shaheen also removed Joe Root in the same match.
Pakistan have won both matches in the tri-series and are in contention for the final .
Pakistan ODI captain Shaheen Afridi etched his name in the record books on Sunday, 25 October 2026, at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, becoming the quickest Pakistan fast bowler to claim 150 wickets in One Day Internationals. The milestone came during the second match of the ODI tri-series against England, when Shaheen dismissed opener Tom Banton in the very first over.
The Record-Breaking Wicket
Needing just one wicket entering the fixture, Shaheen took no time to get there. Tom Banton — who had strung together four consecutive fifty-plus scores in his previous four innings — chipped a full-length delivery to cover, where Arafat held on to a straightforward catch. That dismissal, arriving in Shaheen's 80th ODI, broke the joint record previously held by Pakistan greats Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar, both of whom had reached the landmark in 91 matches each.
Where Shaheen Stands Globally
The 26-year-old left-armer is the second-fastest Pakistan bowler of any discipline to the milestone, sitting just behind off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, who needed only 78 matches. On the global list, Shaheen is joint-fourth. Nepal's Sandeep Lamichhane remains the fastest in the world, having reached 150 ODI wickets in 73 matches. Australia's Mitchell Starc is second in 77 matches, and Mushtaq third in 78. Shaheen now shares fourth position with Afghanistan's Rashid Khan and India's Mohammed Shami, both of whom also achieved the feat in their 80th ODI.
Shaheen's Impact in the Match
The Pakistan captain did not stop at his milestone wicket. Shortly after dismissing Banton, Shaheen removed England talisman Joe Root, caught at backward point, underlining his effectiveness at the top of the bowling attack. The performance reinforced his standing as Pakistan's premier powerplay weapon in the fifty-over format.
Match Context and Series Picture
The tri-series has shifted from Rawalpindi to Lahore for this fixture. Pakistan, having already beaten both Sri Lanka and England in their opening two matches, are eyeing a spot in the final. The team made two changes: Shadab Khan returned, while Razaullah marked his ODI debut. Faheem Ashraf and Naseem Shah were left out — the latter reportedly after dislocating a finger in the warm-up, according to Shaheen at the toss. England handed a debut to Henry Crocombe in place of Josh Tongue. Notably, both teams are wearing pink jerseys during the match as part of an initiative to raise breast cancer awareness.
Point of View
Yet he is a left-arm seamer competing in a format historically dominated by spinners in this zone of fast accumulation. Breaking Waqar and Akhtar's benchmark matters symbolically — those two names defined Pakistan pace for a generation. The real measure of Shaheen's legacy, though, will be sustaining this in a Pakistani side still finding its structural footing in the fifty-over game ahead of the next World Cup cycle. His captaincy adds a further dimension — few all-format skippers in world cricket carry their team's primary wicket-taking burden the way he does.
NationPress
25 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many ODIs did Shaheen Afridi take to reach 150 wickets?
Shaheen Afridi reached 150 ODI wickets in his 80th match, against England in Lahore on 25 October 2026. This makes him the fastest Pakistan fast bowler to the milestone.
Whose record did Shaheen Afridi break?
Shaheen broke the joint record held by Pakistan pace legends Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar, both of whom had reached 150 ODI wickets in 91 matches each. Shaheen achieved it 11 matches sooner.
Who is the fastest bowler in the world to 150 ODI wickets?
Nepal's Sandeep Lamichhane is the fastest globally, having reached 150 ODI wickets in 73 matches. Australia's Mitchell Starc is second (77), Pakistan's Saqlain Mushtaq third (78), and Shaheen Afridi joint-fourth alongside Rashid Khan and Mohammed Shami, all at 80 matches.
Which wicket completed Shaheen's 150th ODI dismissal?
Shaheen's 150th ODI wicket was England opener Tom Banton, who was caught at cover off a full-length delivery in the first over of the match at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
What is Pakistan's position in the ongoing ODI tri-series?
Pakistan have won both of their matches in the tri-series — against Sri Lanka and England — and are strong contenders to reach the final. The series has moved from Rawalpindi to Lahore for this fixture.
