Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi took his 100th wicket in one-day internationals during the World Cup match against Bangladesh in Kolkata on Tuesday. The 23-year-old sensational pacer reached the 100-wicket milestone in his 51st game. He made history for his country.

Shaheen is the 21st bowler from Pakistan to take 100 or more wickets in ODIs, with fellow left-arm pacer Wasim Akram topping the list with 502 wickets in 356 matches. Shaheen made his ODI debut against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi during the Asia Cup in 2018 and has since become one of the top new ball bowlers in all formats of the game.

Shaheen has 105 wickets in 27 Tests and 64 in 52 Twenty20 internationals. He is just 23, and has a long way to go. I am sure he will break all records if he remains fit. I feel Pakistan should preserve this pacer. Shaheen is indeed an asset to Pakistan. I think we should always support him.

He is our national asset. I had noticed that people had started talking bad about him in the beginning of the World Cup when he failed to give his best in the first few matches. This is not good. A hero should always be respected.

Rashid Ahsan,
By email