Abbas Afridi reveals former Pakistan pacer as his idol

Pakistan’s young fast bowler Mohammad Abbas Afridi has credited former fast bowler Umar Gul as a key inspiration in his cricketing journey, calling him both a mentor and his idol.

In a recent interview with a local social media platform, Afridi spoke about the major influence Gul has had on his career — both on and off the field.

"Umar Gul is my uncle and my idol. I started playing cricket by watching him, and I always aim to deliver match-winning performances like him," said Afridi.

The 24-year-old also shared how Gul’s guidance has been vital in helping him grow as a player, particularly when it comes to batting.

"Before the PSL, Umar Gul took me for practice sessions where we worked on power hitting, and it helped me a lot," he added.

Afridi, who plays for Karachi Kings in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10, described himself as a batting-focused all-rounder.

"I consider myself an all-rounder, but I haven't had enough opportunities to showcase my full potential yet. I focus more on batting than bowling, and my goal is to establish myself as a true all-rounder," he concluded.

So far, Afridi has represented Pakistan in 20 T20I matches, taking 33 wickets and scoring 93 runs. In PSL 10, he has been in top form, taking 15 wickets in eight matches — making him the joint-highest wicket-taker alongside Islamabad United's Jason Holder.

Karachi Kings currently sit in third place on the PSL 10 points table, with five wins and three losses from eight games. They are set to face Peshawar Zalmi in their next match at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday.