Shaheen Shah Afridi had a challenging introduction to the Big Bash League on Tuesday, as his debut for Brisbane Heat against Melbourne Renegades at Simonds Stadium turned into a testing evening. The trouble began in the 18th over of the first innings, when Afridi delivered two dangerous waist-high full tosses, one to Tim Seifert and the other to Ollie Peake. The umpires immediately called the deliveries dangerous, forcing Afridi off the field while Heat captain Nathan McSweeney had to finish the over. Afridi walked off with a wry smile, his first spell ending prematurely with figures of 0 for 43 from 2.4 overs. The over proved costly, conceding 15 runs and including three no-balls, on top of two wides earlier in his spell.
Afridi had arrived in the BBL with considerable anticipation, joining fellow Pakistan international Mohammad Rizwan, who debuted for the Renegades. The left-armer began with promise, bowling three consecutive dot balls in his second over, but struggled to maintain rhythm thereafter. When he returned in the 13th over during the Renegades’ Power Surge, he conceded 19 runs, and his final over further added to his woes, ending his night with an economy rate of 16.10. Melbourne Renegades exploited Brisbane’s bowling lapses to post a commanding 212 for 5. Tim Seifert led the charge with an authoritative 102 off 56 balls, while Ollie Peake provided late momentum, scoring 57 off 29 deliveries. Rizwan, however, failed to make a mark, managing just four runs from ten balls before falling to left-arm spinner Paddy Dooley. Despite the rough start, Afridi’s debut highlighted the challenging nature of the BBL, where even world-class international talent can be tested ruthlessly in unfamiliar conditions.
