Shaheen ecstatic after five-fer against SL

KARACHI: Pakistan’s young fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi on Friday said that he was very happy after picking five wickets in his Test career for the first time in front of the home crowd.

“I am really happy that I have got five wickets in an innings for the first time in Test cricket and that too in front of home crowd,” Shaheen told a new conference after the second day’s play of the second Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka here at the National Stadium.

“I always try to bowl with line and length and today God Almighty helped me,” he said. The 19-year old Shaheen pulled off his career-best figures of 5-77 in 26.5 overs to enable Pakistan prevent Sri Lanka from extending their lead.

Responding to a question Shaheen said that his team will be able to give a good target to the oppositions. “Our batsmen have learnt a lot from the first innings and the way they are batting, I am hopeful that we will reach a good total in the end,” he said.

About Pakistan’s chances in the ongoing Test, Shaheen said that the team is working hard and will win this game that will also help them in their Test Championship campaign. Shaheen said that the wicket is good for both pacers and spinners.

“Wicket is good. Some cracks have also been created and that can help the spinners as well. When the ball of the pacers hit the cracks it swings. If you keep the ball at a right area you will succeed. Our main effort will be to put a good total on board and then bowl them,” he said.

Shaheen said that he likes Test cricket. “I like Test cricket very much. When I staged a comeback I worked very hard to improve my bowling and that is helping me a lot now,” said Shaheen.

“I work very hard on my fitness and am also training with bowling coach Waqar Younis,” Shaheen said. Before this Test, Shaheen had played six Tests, having captured 19 wickets. Shaheen is the younger brother of Test pacer Riaz Afridi, who played lone Test against Sri Lanka in 2004 here at the National Stadium.