Lahore, Pakistani fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has expressed optimism about Pakistan’s chances at the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2024. After a series of near misses in the last two tournaments, Afridi believes the team is on the brink of triumph.

According to International Cricket Council, Afridi, speaking on the PCB Podcast, drew parallels between his franchise team Lahore Qalandars’ journey to success in the Pakistan Super League and the national team’s current trajectory. He reflected on the hard work and process-oriented approach that he believes will soon pay dividends for Pakistan on the world stage. Afridi’s comments come after painful losses in the closing stages of the 2021 and 2022 T20 World Cups, where Pakistan fell just short of the title.

In 2021, Afridi was a central figure in the semi-final against Australia, where his late overs were pivotal. The following year, an injury during the final against England hampered his ability to bowl, significantly affecting the team’s strategy. Despite these setbacks, Afridi is buoyed by the team’s unity and the leadership of newly appointed white-ball coach Gary Kirsten, who emphasizes playing for the team emblem rather than individual accolades.

Reflecting on his standout performance against India in the 2021 World Cup, where he dismissed key top-order batsmen, Afridi shared that advice from Pakistani cricket legend Shahid Afridi bolstered his confidence. This guidance, focusing on all-round performance and maintaining pressure, was instrumental in Pakistan’s historic win.

Looking ahead to the 2024 World Cup, scheduled to be held in the United States and Caribbean, Afridi underscored the importance of cohesion and collective effort in transcending past disappointments and achieving international success.