Earlier he had a dangerous addiction, more self destructing than the LSD injection. For narcotics take time to destroy. Of hitting the first ball he would be facing for a six. More often than not, he would end up throwing his wicket. He followed this even in the 2003 historic encounter. Nothing was going wrong for pakistan. The great Saeed Anwar, persuaded by Pakistani people was for once and for the last time pulled out of his renunciation and abyss to score a master craft century. Indeed he had set it up for Pakistan. Out of nowhere India came back good with a couple of wickets. Still Pakistan had afridi with them. And even then...you know what happened.
Year 2011. India-Pak WC Semi-final:
The situation was different here though. He was the captain of a fine side which had lost 5 wickets and was under intense pressure to chase the indian tally of 260. Afridi was matured enough not to toss the first ball and that is what i had primarily feared to come true. Presure got to him as they needed to score runs. Still i feel he shouldn't have played that shot. It could not possibly carry to the fence with that medium pace of the ball, and neither it came from the middle of the bat with the full power of hands not transmitting to the bat.
Afridi, the giant, the big-hearted, the talisman, the performer, the leader, the hope , the all rounder had fallen.
The crowd had broke loose. I knew india would be winning the match soon.
