I think he is a ‘slogger’.
An interesting article:
Afridi: star or slogger?
Expectations have always weighed heavily on Shahid Afridi’s shoulders, but the flamboyant all-rounder knows the World Cup is a vital chance to deliver on that promise.
Despite his immense talent, the thrill-seeking opener continues to both delight and confound Pakistan fans.
His unbeaten century against New Zealand last April, along with his merciless mauling of Holland in September underlined him as one of the most lethal limited-overs batsmen in the world.
But Afridi is a match-winner and walking wicket rolled into one.
When he hits he can finish a match off within 20 overs, when he misses he conveys a feckless air of desperation.
Witness his contribution to Leicestershire’s 2001 C&G Trophy campaign.
The county arguably made the final on the back of his efforts at the top of the order.
But his cameo in the final, where he scored 20 off ten balls, left Leicestershire rudderless in their failed run-chase against Somerset.
His career in the green of Pakistan follows a similar theme.
In keeping with his random approach to cricket, Afridi’s discovery as a damaging top-order batsman was somewhat accidental.
Brought into the Pakistan side at 16 years old ostensibly to replace the injured leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed, Afridi’s impact with the bat was both instant and breathtaking.
Facing Sri Lanka in his first ODI dig, Afridi bludgeoned 102 off 40 deliveries, equalling the most sixes in an innings (11).
Incidentally, the player with whom he shares the record, Sanath Jayasuriya, went for 94 off his ten overs in that game.
And there begun Afridi’s life as a career pinch-hitter.
Though he still occasionally trundles in with his leg-spinners - he took three wickets against the Dutch.
Indeed, since his mesmerising first knock, Afridi has been a guaranteed fixture for Pakistan at the top of the one-day order.
A selection of other bright moments at international level suggest Afridi could well be rated one of the best there is, a talent tailor-made for the demands of the one-day game.
But his overall record exposes him as shockingly enigmatic, a player whose reputation is founded on what he might do rather than what he does.
Just three centuries and a moderate average tells the story for Afridi, who is still young at 22.
What is more, he has failed to make a real impression in his native land, 72 against India at Karachi in 1997 being his highest score.
The fact remains that Afridi has not fulfilled his potential, though paradoxically his Test record is one that portrays him in a better light.
He averages 32.5 with two centuries from just 14 matches, and he literally beat India in 1999 with his own bat as a second-innings 141 saw Pakistan limp over the line by 12 runs.
Comparisons between Afridi and Australia’s one-day hero Gilchrist abound.
Both can set - or alter - the tone of a match with speed of scoring, both are free improvisers and both please the crowd.
Pakistan selectors clearly believe Afridi can be of equal calibre, but Afridi has some way to go if he can bridge the divide from flawed genius to bona-fide international star.
