Why Shaheen Shah Afridi Was Taken Off the Attack on His BBL Debut?

Shaheen Shah Afridi is a renowned Pakistani left-arm fast bowler. Afridi got taken off the field during his first Big Bash League match for Brisbane Heat against Melbourne Renegades. The umpires stopped him after he bowled two full tosses that were waist-high in the 18th over. They called them dangerous, so captain Nathan McSweeney had to finish the over.

Match Details

The match took place at Simonds Stadium in Geelong on December 15, 2025. Afridi bowled 2.4 overs, conceding 43 runs without taking a wicket (0/43). He bowled three no-balls and two wides, with a high economy rate of 16.10.

He began well with three dot balls but struggled later, giving away 9 runs in his first over, 19 runs in the 13th over (during the Power Surge), and 15 runs in his unfinished 18th over.

Incomplete Third Over (18th)

• Ball 1: Six by Ollie Peake
• Ball 2: Low full toss (not no-ball)
• Ball 3: High full toss (beamer no-ball) to Tim Seifert, hit for two runs (Seifert’s century)
• Ball 4: Free hit yorker, one run
• Ball 5: Another no-ball full toss outside off
• Ball 6: Free hit, one run
• Ball 7: Second beamer no-ball; Afridi removed, captain Nathan McSweeney bowled remaining two balls (5 runs total in over)

Wow.

On his BBL debut, Shaheen Afridi has been removed from the attack! #BBL15 pic.twitter.com/IhDLsKFfJi

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 15, 2025

Key Context

Tim Seifert hit a century (102 runs) for the Renegades. He smashed boundaries off Afridi and made the most of his expensive over. Afridi’s Pakistan teammate Mohammad Rizwan also debuted for the Renegades in that match. It was a rough start to the BBL for the left-arm pacer, even though he was a top draft pick.