The Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024 began on February 17 and concluded on March 18.

Organised by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), as many as six teams played a total of 34 T20 matches across four venues in PSL 2024. 

Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Multan Sultans, Peshawar Zalmi and Quetta Gladiators are the teams that were competing for the PSL 2024 title.

Some of the talented T20 bowlers including the likes of Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Wasim, David Willey, Abbas Afridi, Shadab Khan and Hasan Ali participated in the Pakistan Super League.

Multan Sultansďż˝?Abbas Afridi finished with the most wickets in PSL 2023. The 22-year-old right-arm pacer picked up 23 wickets in 11 matches in the 2023 edition.

Meanwhile, former Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz holds the record for the most wickets in PSL history. Between 2016 and 2023, the left-arm pacer bagged 113 wickets in 88 matches for Peshawar Zalmi.

Islamabad United captain Shadab Khan took the first wicket in PSL 2024. The star leg-spinner dismissed Lahore Qalandars�?opening batter Fakhar Zaman in the opening game of the T20 tournament. 

Peshawar Zalmi leg-spinner Arif Yaqoob became the first bowler to claim a five-wicket haul in PSL 2024. Arif Yaqoob recorded match-winning figures of 5/27 against Islamabad United to help his side win the game by eight runs at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Apart from Yaqoob, the likes of Mohammad Ali, David Willey, Shaheen Afridi, Abrar Ahmed and Usama Mir were in contention to be the top wicket-taker in PSL 2024.

Here’s a look at the players with most wickets in PSL 2024.

Most wickets in PSL 2024: Know the top wicket-takers in Pakistan Super League

Player	Team	Matches	Wickets
Usama Mir	Multan Sultans	12	24
Mohammad Ali	Multan Sultans	12	19
Abrar Ahmed	Quetta Gladiators	10	16
David Willey	Multan Sultans	11	15
Akeal Hosein	Quetta Gladiators	10	15
Naseem Shah	 Islamabad United	 11	15
Shaheen Afridi	Lahore Qalandars	9	14
Hasan Ali	Karachi Kings	10	14
 Shadab Khan	 Islamabad United	12	14
Abbas Afridi	Multan Sultans	9	13

Photo credit: Alamy

India’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi share the record for the most wickets in first over for a bowler in T20 cricket. 

Having made his name as an opening swing bowler, right-arm fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar has already bagged 46 wickets in the very first over of T20 matches.

Pakistan’s current T20 international captain Shaheen Shah Afridi is joint-first on the list for the most wickets in first overs for a bowler in T20 cricket. The lethal left-arm pacer has scalped 46 wickets in the first over of T20 games.

The likes of Mohammad Amir, Sohail Tanvir and David Willey are some of the other bowlers who have claimed the most wickets in first over in T20 cricket across both the domestic and international level. Get the top five list.

Most wickets in first over for a bowler in T20 cricket

Player	Wickets
Shaheen Shah Afridi	46
Bhuvneshwar Kumar	46
Mohammad Amir	41
Sohail Tanvir	39
David Willey	37

Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 46 wickets

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been the most successful bowler in providing early strikes in the first over in T20 cricket. Since making his T20 debut in 2009, the Uttar Pradesh-born cricketer has bagged 46 wickets in the first over in cricket’s shortest format. Among full-member ICC nations, Bhuvneshwar is the bowler to have taken the most wickets (18) in first overs in T20Is. Apart from representing the Indian cricket team and Uttar Pradesh in the domestic circuit, Bhuvneshwar has played for Bangalore, Pune and Hyderabad in the Indian T20 League.

Shaheen Afridi | 46 wickets

Shaheen Afridi has the joint wickets in first over for a bowler in T20 cricket. Known to trouble the batters with his lethal pace bowling, Shaheen Afridi has scalped 46 wickets in the first over in T20 cricket so far. In his short career, Afridi has also donned the jerseys of several T20 franchises including Lahore Qalandars, Comilla Victorians, Welsh Fire and Desert Vipers to name a few. Following his success in the T20I format, he replaced Babar Azam as Pakistan’s new T20I captain. He has taken 13 wickets for Pakistan in his opening overs in T20Is. 

Mohammad Amir | 41 wickets

Another Pakistan left-arm fast bowler, Mohammad Amir, is third on the list. Having made his T20 debut in 2008, Amir has picked up 41 wickets in the opening over in the shortest format. Amir finished as one of Pakistan’s leading wicket-takers in T20I format. Additionally, the experienced pacer played for numerous franchises across the globe. Bangla Tigers, Barbados Royals, Chittagong Vikings, Desert Vipers, Fortune Barishal, Galle Gladiators, Jamaica Tallawahs, Karachi Kings, Khulna Tigers and Quetta Gladiators are some of the teams that Amir has represented so far.

Sohail Tanvir | 39 wickets

Just like Shaheen Afridi and Mohammed Amir, another former Pakistan left-arm pacer Sohail Tanvir features next on the list. Having tormented the batters with his unorthodox left arm bowling action, Sohail Tanvir took 39 wickets in the first over in T20 cricket. Along with a successful T20I career for the national side, Tanvir spearheaded bowling attacks for several franchises including Guyana Amazon Warriors, Kandy Tuskers, Karachi Kings, Multan Sultans, Quetta Gladiators, Team Rajasthan, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots and St Lucia Zouks. His bowling played a key role in Rajasthan winning the inaugural Indian T20 League in 2008.

David Willey | 37 wickets

England’s David Willey completes the top five list. The talented left-arm pacer has been a wicket-taker for any side that he plays for in cricket’s shortest format. Since his T20 debut in 2009, Willey has scalped 37 wickets in the opening over of T20 matches. The bowling all-rounder has taken 15 wickets in his first overs for England so far. Having made his name as a T20 specialist, Willey has also donned jerseys of Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Bangla Tigers, Team Chennai, Durban’s Super Giants, Multan Sultans, Perth Scorchers, Team Bangalore and Welsh Fire in the various T20 leagues. 

Photo credit: Alamy

The New Zealand vs Pakistan T20 2024 cricket series will start at the Eden Park in Auckland on Friday, January 12.

As per the schedule, New Zealand and Pakistan will play five T20 internationals across 10 days in order to prepare themselves for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 to be held in the West Indies and the United States in June.

After the opening T20I in Auckland, the two sides will travel to Hamilton to play the second T20I to be hosted at Seddon Park on January 14. Both teams will later face each other in the third game of the series at the University Oval in Dunedin on January 17.

The fourth and final T20Is will be played at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on January 19 and 21, respectively.

Ranked third in the ICC men’s T20I rankings, New Zealand will enter the series after being held to a 1-1 draw by Bangladesh in the recently-concluded three-match T20I series at home.

Ahead of the series, the New Zealand cricket team has announced their 13-man T20I squad to be led by captain Kane Williamson.

As per a curated arrangement, Williamson will not feature in the third T20I and Mitchell Santner will lead the side in his absence.

Fast bowler Matt Henry has recovered from his hamstring injury and will play the five T20Is against Pakistan.

Meanwhile, wicketkeeper-batter Devon Conway has also returned to the squad after being rested in the Bangladesh series.

Pacer Ben Sears has been included for the opening two matches while fast bowler Lockie Ferguson will make his return for the final three games. 

Kyle Jamieson and Michael Bracewell have been ruled out due to injuries while Trent Boult and Jimmy Neesham were unavailable for selection.

On the other hand, Shaheen Afridi will begin his reign as Pakistan cricket team’s T20I captain. 

Pakistan are currently placed fourth in the ICC men’s T20I rankings. 

Shaheen Afridi has been given the opportunity after he led his PSL side Lahore Qalandars to back-to-back titles. 

The uncapped duo of wicketkeeper-batter Haseebullah Khan and right-arm fast bowler Abbas Afridi have been added to the Pakistan T20I squad.

Leg-spinner Usama Mir will also look to make his T20I debut in New Zealand.

White-ball specialist Haris Rauf has been included in the squad despite friction over the pacer’s decision to skip the Test tour of Australia.

Pakistan batter Sahibzada Farhan has earned a recall to the squad after a gap of five years. Sahibzada Farhan last featured in the three-match T20I series against New Zealand in 2018.

New Zealand vs Pakistan head-to-head in T20 cricket

Pakistan have a superior head-to-head record against New Zealand in T20 cricket, winning 20 of the 34 matches that they have played so far. New Zealand have registered 13 victories while one game was abandoned.

The last time these two sides met in the shortest format, a five-match series ended 2-2 in Pakistan in April 2023.

Where to watch New Zealand vs Pakistan T20 2024 series live in India

Live streaming of the New Zealand vs Pakistan T20 2024 series will be available on Amazon Prime Video.

There will be no live telecast of the NZ vs PAK T20Is on any TV channel in India.

New Zealand vs Pakistan T20 2024 schedule and live match start times

All match times are in India Standard Time (IST)

Day and Date	Match	Venue	Time (IST)
Friday, January 12	New Zealand vs Pakistan, 1st T20I	Eden Park, Auckland	11:40 AM
Sunday, January 14	New Zealand vs Pakistan, 2nd T20I	Seddon Park, Hamilton	11:40 AM
Wednesday, January 17	New Zealand vs Pakistan, 3rd T20I	University Oval, Dunedin	5:30 AMÂ
Friday, January 19	New Zealand vs Pakistan, 4th T20I	Hagley Oval, Christchurch	11:40 AM
Sunday, January 21	New Zealand vs Pakistan, 5th T20I	Hagley Oval, Christchurch	5:30 AMÂ

New Zealand vs Pakistan T20 2024 squads

New Zealand T20 squad: Kane Williamson (captain) (matches 1, 2, 4 and 5), Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson (match 3 only), Devon Conway (wicket-keeper), Lockie Ferguson (matches 3, 4 and 5), Matt Henry, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears (matches 1 and 2), Tim Seifert (wicket-keeper), Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee

Pakistan T20 squad: Shaheen Afridi (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abbas Afridi, Azam Khan (wicket-keeper), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan (wicket-keeper), Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Wasim Jr., Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Usama Mir, Zaman Khan

Photo credit: Alamy

Established in 1814, the Lord’s Cricket Ground is a stadium located in St. John’s Wood in London.

Commonly known as Lord’s, the venue is named after its founder Thomas Lord, who was an English professional cricketer. Thomas Lord played first-class cricket from 1787 to 1802 before making a comeback in one more match in 1815.

Owned by Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), Lord’s Cricket Ground is also referred to as the Home of Cricket.

Lord’s is the home of Middlesex County Cricket Club, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the European Cricket Council (ECC). It was also home to the International Cricket Council (ICC) until August 2005.

With a seating capacity of over 31,000, the iconic venue also features the world's oldest sporting museum.

It is one of the oldest cricket venues across the world, having staged its first Test between England and arch-rivals Australia in 1884. Since then, Lord’s has hosted 142 Test matches, 70 ODIs and 10 T20Is so far.

The Indian cricket team has played eight ODIs at Lord’s, winning four while suffering three defeats. One match was tied.

India have also featured in 19 Tests and one T20I encounter at this venue previously.

Here, we look at some ODI records and stats at the Lord’s:

Lord’s ODI records and stats

Highest team total: The England cricket team holds the record for the highest team total in ODI cricket at the Lord’s. During the 1975 Prudential World Cup, England rode on Dennis Amiss�?137 off 147 balls, Keith Fletcher’s 68 and Chris Old’s unbeaten 51 to post 334/4 in their allotted 60 overs. In reply, India could only manage 132/3 in their 60 overs. England won the match by 202 runs.

In the 50-over format, England’s 328/6 against Ireland back in 2017 is the highest team total at Lord’s posted.

Lowest team total: South Africa cricket team registered the lowest ODI team total at Lord’s during the NatWest Series final in 2003. After England elected to field, the hosts bundled out South Africa for 107 in 32.1 overs. James Anderson was the wrecker-in-chief for England as he picked up three wickets for 50 runs in his quota of 10 overs. In response, England chased down the target in 20.2 overs and secured a dominant seven-wicket win.

Highest individual score: Former West Indies cricket legend Vivian Richards recorded the highest individual score in ODI cricket at the Lord’s. The swashbuckling batter scored an unbeaten 138 off 157 balls against hosts England in 1979. Richards�?innings was laced with eleven fours and three sixes.

Best bowling figures: Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi posted the best bowling figures at this venue in 50-over cricket. The left-arm fast bowler registered figures of 6/35 against Bangladesh during a 2019 Cricket World Cup encounter at the Lord’s. Shaheen Shah Afridi’s incredible spell helped Pakistan secure a 94-run victory.

Most runs: Former England opening batter Marcus Trescothick has amassed the most ODI runs at the Lord’s Cricket Ground. The southpaw scored 595 runs in 13 matches at an average of 49.58 and a strike rate of 79.33. He smashed three hundreds and two fifties at this venue in ODIs. Vivian Richards is second on the list with 524 runs in nine matches at an average of 87.33.

Most wickets: Former England fast bowler Darren Gough has picked the most wickets at this iconic venue in ODIs. The right-arm pacer claimed 27 wickets in 18 ODIs at an economy of 4.47. His best bowling figures at the venue was 5/44 against Australia in 1997. James Anderson is second on the list with 19 wickets in 16 matches.

Highest partnership: England’s Andrew Strauss and Andrew Flintoff hold the record for the highest partnership at the Lord’s in ODI cricket. The former England duo forged a 226-run partnership for the fourth wicket against West Indies in an ODI in 2004. While all-rounder Flintoff smashed 123 off 104 balls, Strauss scored 100 off 116 balls to help England post 285/7 in their 50 overs. However, Chris Gayle’s unbeaten 132 powered West Indies to a dominant seven-wicket victory at Lord’s.

Play fantasy cricket with SportsAdda. Create your team, track your progress and win prizes. Start here.

Follow us on Telegram for the latest updates from the world of sports!

Interested in cricket betting? Click here to check out the list of top sites.

Featured photo: Twitter/Lord's Cricket Ground

Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali’s is a fledgling fast-bowling partnership, only five Test matches old right now. The combination of the tall left-arm Shaheen and the skiddy right-arm Hasan holds much promise for Pakistan and it is showing in recent performances.

The pair took 15 of 20 South Africa wickets in the Rawalpindi Test in February this year, setting up a 95-run win. Seven of those wickets were bowled. In Harare last week, they took 13 of 20 Zimbabwe wickets. Again, seven of those wickets were bowled.

Both pitches were anything but quick, and sending so many stumps cartwheeling in such conditions takes some doing. Once the older ball started reversing a bit in Harare, both pacers ripped through the opposition tail with swerving yorkers, Shaheen in the first innings and Hasan in the second. It is a special skill to have and has already drawn comparisons with former Pakistan greats, which brings more joy than pressure, according to Shaheen.

Two days before the second and final Test against Zimbabwe, Shaheen spoke about his developing bond with Hasan, and how the two helped each other out in the middle.

“I enjoy Test cricket a lot, session by session. I enjoy it even more bowling along with Hasan, it feels good to be bowling in tandem,�?Shaheen said. “When I bowl badly, Hasan comes and motivates me and vice-versa. We coordinate with each other out there and then apply our learnings.�?/span>

One thing Shaheen may want to pick up from his partner is batting skills. While he has a Test batting average of only 4.68, Hasan’s is 15.64 and his frenetic hitting is a delight to fans. Even in Harare, Hasan slammed three fours and two sixes to make 30 and helped put on a useful 61 for the seventh wicket with centurion Fawad Alam. Shaheen acknowledged the importance of late runs from the bowlers.

“Batting is very crucial, scoring runs down the order can contribute towards a winning score, and our endeavour is to do the same and make the team win,�?Shaheen said.

The second Test between Pakistan and Zimbabwe begins at 1:00 PM on Friday.

Photo: TheRealPCB/Twitter

The highly-anticipated three-match T20 series between Pakistan and New Zealand, which begins on Friday, December 19, will see two brilliant T20I sides trying to outlast the other.

Though visitors Pakistan would be without their in-form captain Babar Azam, who is ruled out of the entire series with a fractured thumb, the Men in Green still boast of a powerful unit, especially in this format. Hosts New Zealand, on the other hand, come into this series following a successful T20I outing against West Indies with their skipper, Kane Williamson and pacer Trent Boult spitting fire. 

With both the teams brimming with individual talents, here’s a look at a few players who we think can make a difference in the T20I series.

Haider Ali

With the absence of regular opener Babar Azam, a door could open for Haider Ali to play the new ball. Ali made his debut against England in the third T20I and scored an impressive half-century. The Peshawar Zalmi player, who recently had an impressive outing in the PSL, has had everyone chanting his name after his blistering knocks and easy-flowing cricket. Ali also caught eye-balls after his maiden Quaid-e-Azam tournament and became a revelation thereafter. The 20-year old likes the ball coming on to the bat and will enjoy the Kiwi conditions. With the advantage of the field restrictions, Haider will look to give his side the head-start they need.

Glenn Phillips 

Glenn Phillips took 46 deliveries to score his first T20I hundred, the quickest by a New Zealander in this format. He was also involved in a 184-run partnership with Devon Conway which is the highest for his nation. Phillips also came in to bat after the powerplay and scored 108 runs - the most by any player from the top teams to come in and bat after the restrictions. All this on a single day against the recently concluded series against the Caribbean Islands. The South African born batsman has the ability to hit 360 degrees, which makes him an even more dangerous batsman. He grabbed his opportunity with both hands after some frontline players were rested. Having got an extended run in this format, the 24-year old will want to be a regular name in this outfit.

Devon Conway

Glenn Phillips�?partner in crime Devon Conway is another South African born cricketer who made his debut later this year. An attacking left-handed batsman who bats in the top order hit a crucial 29-ball 41 as the Black Caps chased down the Windies target of 176 in 16 overs. He went on to score an unbeaten 65 in the second match to give the home side the series. Devon’s form in all three formats since the last two seasons made him impossible to ignore, said selector Gavin Larsen. The Johannesburg native was the top scorer in the Shield and the Super Smash - New Zealand’s domestic competition. In the following year, he topped the charts in all the three competitions. Conway can also keep wickets which could help the balance of the squad.

Shaheen Afridi

Another young but popular star goes by the name of Shaheen Shah Afridi. The pacer is having a dream 2020 season and will hope to extend the same momentum in New Zealand. The left-arm fast bowler became the youngest overseas player to play county cricket and wreaked havoc in England. He picked up 4 wickets in 4 balls including a hat-trick and was on fire throughout the tournament. Afridi duplicated his form in the Pakistan Super League taking most wickets and finishing as runner-up. The youngster didn’t take part in the T20I series against Zimbabwe but was at his lethal best in the 50-over format. With adequate rest and the ability to swing the ball, Shaheen would be leading the Pakistan bowling attack and would be licking his lips to make the ball talk.

Feature Image Courtesy: AFP/ Aamir Qureshi

Days after getting better of the West Indies in a three-match Test series, England are all set to lock horns with Pakistan in the longest format, starting August 5.

The tourists are on a good run of form against their opponents, having won two of their last four Test series contested, while the other two ended in a draw. England meanwhile, are still seeking their first series win over Pakistan in a decade, and thus, a lot will be at stake when the two sides take to the pitch in the first Test at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

• All you need to know about the 1st Test between England and Pakistan

That said, we look at two players from each team who are certain to be in the spotlight.

Joe Root

England skipper Joe Root returned to the Test setup after personal reasons forced him out of the first game against the West Indies, which England lost by four wickets. He didn’t have a great impact in the second Test, but made up for it with an unbeaten 68 off just 56 balls in the final game as England clinched the series 2-1.

Root has registered an unwanted record in his career as England captain. On the final day of the second Test against the West Indies, Root threw his wicket for an in-form Ben Stokes, and that was followed by another run-out in the final Test, which made him the English Test captain with most run-out dismissals.

• Five great England-Pakistan flare-ups

It is certain that this is something the England captain would like to work upon as the Pakistan series looms. On the other hand, with 22 Test victories in his kitty already, a clean sweep against Pakistan would make Root England's second-most successful Test captain after Michael Vaughan (26). 

James Anderson

Despite being 38, right-arm pacer James Anderson has enjoyed a great run of form of late and there’s another milestone awaiting him as he gears up to face Pakistan in the first Test. Duly expected to spearhead England’s bowling attack at Old Trafford, Anderson is just 11 wickets shy of becoming the first pacer to reach the 600-wicket mark in the longest format of the game. 

Anderson, alongside Stuart Broad, has enjoyed great success against Pakistan’s top order.  The pair picked 18 wickets between them in the 2018 series. One more wicket and the the duo will become the second-most deadly combination in Test cricket with 896 dismissals, after Warne-McGrath pair (1001 wickets).  On a personal front, Anderson has loved playing against Pakistan captain Azhar Ali, having dismissed him seven times in 443 balls since their first meeting in 2010 while conceding a mere 153 runs. 

• Even the PM's a fast bowler: Pakistan cricket's need for speed

Shaheen Shah Afridi

England lost a whopping 20 wickets to left-arm swing during their series against New Zealand and South Africa before facing the West Indies. And this is one of the reasons why they were initially toppled by the Caribbeans, and this is exactly where Pakistan can strike while using their young prodigy Shaheen Shah Afridi. 

Afridi is yet to play against England in the longest format, yet it is safe to say that he remains one of their most lethal weapons. The 20-year-old is just eight Tests old but has picked 30 wickets at 27.96, which includes three four-wicket hauls and one five-wicket haul. An absolute asset for Pakistan, Afridi will be one to keep a keen eye on.

Azhar Ali

Pakistan captain Azhar Ali hasn’t really enjoyed fruitful outings against England’s pacers, to say the least. The 35-year-old, like his underwhelming form against James Anderson, has struggled against the likes of Stuart Broad and even Chris Woakes, with the former dismissing him six times and the latter getting the better of him on three occasions.

• England wary of slow start against Pakistan

In a hope of making progress in the ICC Test rankings, the skipper will have to lead from the front if he intends to churn out a positive outcome against an in-form England team.

If you wish to raise the stakes further, Sportsbet.io has even more to offer!

Feature image courtesy: AFP/ Lindsey Parnaby

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author's and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SportsAdda.

Pakistan paceman Shaheen Shah Afridi enjoyed a breakthrough World Cup campaign, prompting Wasim Akram to hail the teenager as a future star.

The teenager recorded Pakistan's best-ever World Cup bowling figures with a scintillating spell of 6-35 in Friday's win over Bangladesh at Lord's.

Despite that victory in their last group match, Pakistan failed to qualify for the semi-finals as they had an inferior net run-rate compared to fourth-placed New Zealand, who also had 11 points from nine matches.

But the gloom of not reaching the last four was lifted by a series of eye-catching performances from Shaheen and several other rising Pakistan stars that offered hope for the coming years.

Wasim, who starred in Pakistan's 1992 World Cup triumph, said he was delighted to have witnessed Shaheen's progress.

"Definitely, Shaheen is one for the future, a beacon of light for the next generation of fast bowlers," the former left-arm quick told AFP.

"Shaheen is hard-working and a quick learner so these traits will take him to places."

Wasim was surprised that Pakistan delayed Shaheen's World Cup baptism, leaving him out until the fourth match of their campaign against Australia in Taunton.

"Shaheen is a wicket-taking bowler and that was known before the World Cup, so it's over me why he was not played from the start."

Shaheen's three wickets against New Zealand came in the space of just 20 balls and announced his arrival as a major threat as he dismissed Colin Munro, Ross Taylor and Tom Latham.

He took 4-47 against Afghanistan and finished with a flourish, with 6-35 against Bangladesh.

He became the youngest player to take a five-wicket haul at the World Cup -- at 19 years and 90 days -- surpassing Kenyan spinner Collins Obuya's 2003 feat when he was aged 21 years and 212 days.

"I am delighted to have performed like this," said Shaheen, who finished with 16 wickets in five games.

"But I am sure that this is only the beginning and I have to go far to attain greatness like Wasim and Waqar Younis."

Shaheen is one of many Pakistani left-arm seam bowlers to have idolised Wasim.

The 19-year-old made his mark in a domestic match in September 2017, claiming eight wickets for just 39 runs in a Quaid-e-Azam Trophy game.

Within a short space of time he was compared to Wasim and Australia pace spearhead Mitchell Starc.

Shaheen graduated to Pakistan colours in the Twenty20 series against the West Indies in April last year, but his first major success came against New Zealand in last year's one-day series in the United Arab Emirates.

He claimed back-to-back four wicket hauls and was named as the man of the series.

Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur predicts Shaheen will be the best in the business.

"I have seen the progress of Starc," said Arthur, who also briefly coached Australia. "Shaheen can be better than all those who are in the business, because he has that will and talent."

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Olly Greenwood

With the Cricket World Cup heading into the semi-finals, the tournament is set for a dramatic conclusion featuring some of the game's finest talents.

But the group stage also introduced the world to several vibrant young talents set to dominate cricket for years to come.

Here, we look at five players who have announced their arrival as potential stars:

Nicholas Pooran (West Indies)

Nicholas Pooran finally showcased the talent he has promised to unleash for so long as the batsman finished as the West Indies' leading run scorer.

The 23-year-old made a duck on his ODI debut before the World Cup but went on to play each of the team's nine group games, scoring 367 runs at an average of 52.42.

West Indies assistant coach Roddy Estwick had seen Pooran's potential five years ago when he scored 143 in an Under-19 World Cup match against Australia.

"I've always believed in Nicholas. I'm not surprised by his talent. What's surprised me is it's taken as long as this for him to come through," Estwick said.

Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan)

AFP / Olly Greenwood

Pakistan paceman Shaheen Shah Afridi enjoyed a breakthrough World Cup campaign, prompting Wasim Akram to hail the teenager as a future star.

The teenager recorded Pakistan's best-ever World Cup bowling figures with a scintillating spell of 6-35 in Friday's win over Bangladesh at Lord's.

He became the youngest player to take a five-wicket haul at the World Cup at 19 years and 90 days, finishing the tournament with 16 wickets in five games.

"Definitely, Shaheen is one for the future, a beacon of light for the next generation of fast bowlers," Wasim told AFP.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan)

AFP / Saeed Khan

Afghanistan may have left the World Cup winless after losing all nine matches, but the minnows could take heart from the rise of teenage off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

Mujeeb took just seven wickets in the tournament, but the 18-year-old tormented batsmen with his crafty use of flight and variation, marking him out as one to watch.

Rashid Khan, his senior by two years, remains Afghanistan's number one spinner, but Mujeeb is coming up fast, as he proved with a superb spell of 3-39 against Bangladesh in Southampton.

Avishka Fernando (Sri Lanka)

AFP / Dibyangshu Sarkar

When Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne reflected on a frustrating campaign for the 1996 champions, the promising form of fearless batsman Avishka Fernando put a smile back on his face.

The 21-year-old scored 203 runs in only four matches in the tournament, including 104 against the West Indies and 49 in Sri Lanka's shock win over England.

"We've had a few positives out of this World Cup," Karunaratne said. "Avishka Fernando is playing really well. 

"He showed what he can do, he can produce runs for Sri Lanka. He's one of the future stars."

Jofra Archer (England)

AFP / Paul Ellis

Barbados-born Jofra Archer has repaid England's faith with a dazzling breakthrough in his first major tournament.

Archer only became eligible to play for England earlier this year and was fast-tracked into the team just before the World Cup in a bid to make the most of the paceman's natural gifts.

The 24-year-old's combination of speed and accuracy made him unplayable at times.

He taken 17 wickets in England's run to the semi-finals, including a run of four successive three-wicket hauls, leading many to mark him down as the spearhead of his country's attack for years to come.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Dibyangshu Sarkar

Every World Cup failure for Pakistan sparks a wave of reviews and sackings and the promise of a fresh approach ďż˝?until the team wins again and all is forgotten.

The script is expected to be similar after Sarfaraz Ahmed's team failed to make the semi-finals in England and Wales despite a late charge.

Pakistan won four straight matches to finish level on 11 points with New Zealand, but they bowed out of the tournament due to an inferior net run-rate.

There have once again been calls for an overhaul of the system, changes in the team set-up and style of play, but 1992 World Cup winner Wasim Akram said there was no need to panic.

"Pakistan woke up late in the World Cup and when they gained momentum they won four straight games," the former captain told AFP.

"It is not a bad finish and I don't think we need to panic.

"There is no quick fix and the people running cricket need time and must keep the example of how England lifted their one-day cricket. I am ready to contribute towards that."

Watch | Stani Army's take on India-Pakistan clashes

England's humiliating first-round exit in 2015 sparked a radical rethink and the host nation started this World Cup as the number one side in the world.

Another World Cup winner, Ramiz Raja, believes Pakistan have the ability to produce "magical" cricket and says their exit is a loss to the tournament.

But he said every defeat was an opportunity to assess things and that ruthless decisions were required.

"I think every defeat gives an opportunity for introspection, so Pakistan need to do four or five things if they want to be a force in world cricket," he said.

"Pakistan have to correct their system, which can provide them with regular talent and then define and refine that talent.

"Look at Australia ďż˝?they were losing against every team a year ago but since their system is strong they stood up. We need to take ruthless decisions in a review."

The positions of head coach Mickey Arthur and captain Sarfaraz ďż˝?both of whom had contracts until the World Cup ďż˝?will be looked at as part of the assessment.

Luckily for Pakistan, they have a crop of talented youngsters who can form the nucleus of the team for years to come.

Read | Fans own Twitter banter after Pakistan’s World Cup exit

"At 24, we're the youngest team by a long way in this competition, and that is something that we can be proud of, and I think that augurs well for the future of Pakistan cricket," said Arthur, who wants to continue in the role of coach.

"We've showcased a lot of our young talent, and I think the likes of Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Shadab Khan, the list goes on and on. And look, there's going to be a review now, and we'll see how that goes.

"Unfortunately, it has always been this way for Pakistan -- we don't seem to be able to find that collective consistency. But my message, again, is 'let's stay positive'."

Pakistan has hosted little international cricket since Sri Lanka's team bus was attacked in 2009 in Lahore.

The situation has forced Pakistan to play at neutral venues in the United Arab Emirates, meaning the game is not so visible to the younger generation who need to be inspired to play the game.

The nation's cricket board is striving to bring back international cricket to Pakistan in the hope that will provide a further catalyst for a revival in the team's fortunes.

Feature image courtesy: AFP Photo/ Paul Ellis