Cricket fans witness sportsmanship as Shaheen Afridi honours Harry Brook
Mutual respect took center stage during the recent T20 World Cup encounter between Pakistan and England. Even though Pakistan suffered a narrow two-wicket defeat, the game is being remembered for a heartwarming gesture. Left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi was seen walking up to shake hands with England captain Harry Brook right after the batsman was dismissed. This moment of grace followed a spectacular batting performance that turned the tide of the match.
England found themselves in deep trouble early on while chasing their target. The Pakistani bowling spearhead, Shaheen Afridi, dismantled the top order by taking three wickets in his opening three overs. However, Harry Brook decided to promote himself up the order to stabilize the innings. He played a career-defining knock, reaching a century in just 50 deliveries. His innings included ten boundaries and four massive sixes, proving why he is considered a modern-day great.
Speaking about the handshake after the game, the Pakistani fast bowler noted that his reaction was completely natural. Both cricketers previously shared a dressing room while playing for the Lahore Qalandars in the PSL. Shaheen Afridi mentioned that when a player delivers an innings of such high caliber, they deserve genuine appreciation regardless of the jersey they wear. He described Brook as one of the best prepared batsmen he has ever faced on the field.
Analyzing the loss, the Pakistani team realized that a lack of middle-order partnerships cost them dearly. While England had Brook anchoring the chase, Pakistan struggled to maintain momentum after being 84 for 3 in the 12th over. Losing wickets in quick succession prevented them from reaching a more competitive total of 180 or 190. Shaheen Afridi pointed out that having a set batsman stay until the end was the primary difference between the two sides in this high-voltage T20 World Cup fixture.
