Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam are the current opening pair of the Pakistan Cricket team in ODIs right now. However, none of them have the explosive quality that the legendary Shahid Afrid had. The star all-rounder had the ability of smashing the opposition bowlers out of the park at right from he first ball of the innings. Legendary Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram has not compared any of the Pakistan openers to Afridi.

In an interaction on Ten Sports, Wasim Akram compared young India opening batter Abhishek Sharma to Shahid Afridi. He praised him for his 37-ball hundred against England in the fifth T20I of the series in Mumbai. He said that he is also a good fielder and needs to keep focussing on his game.

"The kind of talent that he has, I believe he is also a very good fielder. What a player and what an innings. A 37-ball hundred. I had heard of Boom Boom Afridi and now this. I have seen his innings, and I think he is an excellent hard-hitting batsman. He just needs to keep focusing on his game," Akram said.

Wasim Akram recalled his meeting with Abhishek Sharma during the India vs Pakistan Champions Trophy 2025 match in Dubai. He did not recognize him at first, but when he did he referred to him as the one who destroyed England with his big hiting.

"Look, I met him in Dubai. I was in the DP World Box. I didn't recognise him first. This young boy came up to me and said 'I am Abhishek Sharma'. I said 'wahi Abhishek jisne maar maar k England ka dumba banaya' (that Abhishek who desroyed England by big hitting)," Akram revealed.

"I said 'well done beta'. He's a very good-looking boy. I have seen a couple of clips of his batting. I think he has got a very bright future. I gave him only one piece of advice: I said this is just the start, think you have to play for another 15-20 years for your country," the legendary fast bowler added.

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