Left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi on Saturday became the most expensive Pakistan bowler in ODI World Cup history during his team’s match against New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Shaheen was hit all around the park by New Zealand batters especially Rachin Ravindra (108 off 94) and Kane Williamson (95 off 79) as he conceded 90 runs in his 10 overs with no wickets to register an unwanted bowling record.
This is the first time in 24 ODI innings Shaheen has gone without a wicket.
Not only Shaheen, the right-arm pacer Haris Rauf also got the same treatment by Kiwi batters as he gave away 85 runs and picked just one wicket in 10 overs.
Most runs conceded by a Pakistan bowler in a World Cup innings
0/90 – Shaheen Afridi vs NZ, Bengaluru, November 4, 2023
1/85 – Haris Rauf vs NZ, Bengaluru, November 4, 2023
1/84 – Hasan Ali vs IND, Manchester, 2019
3/83 – Haris Rauf vs AUS, Bengaluru, 2023
Barring Mohammad Wasim, who finished with 3/60, all the other Pakistan bowlers found the going tough in Bengaluru as New Zealand posted 401/6 in 50 overs – its biggest World Cup total in the history. Their previous best total in a World Cup game was 393 against West Indies in Wellington in 2015.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and opted to bowl first and both teams decided to change their playing XI for this all-important clash.
Kane Williamson returned for New Zealand and is leading the side. They also recalled Mark Chapman and leg-spinner Ish Sodhi with Will Young, Jimmy Neesham and the injured Matt Henry making way.
On the other hand, Pakistan turned to pace with Hasan Ali replacing spinner Usama Mir.
Playing XIs:
New Zealand: Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson (c), Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitch Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Trent Boult.
Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim.