Shahid Afridi used Sachin Tendulkar’s bat to score his record-breaking 37-ball century against Sri Lanka in 1996. This fascinating piece of cricket history connects two legendary players from rival nations through one extraordinary performance.
The story behind how a young Pakistani cricketer came to use the Indian maestro’s bat and subsequently etched his name in the record books is one of cricket’s most intriguing tales.
About Shahid Afridi’s 37-Ball Century
In October 1996, a 16-year-old Shahid Afridi, playing in only his second One Day International (ODI), stunned the cricket world during the Coca-Cola Tri-Nation Series in Nairobi, Kenya. Sent in at number three, Afridi—who was primarily known as a bowler at that time—unleashed a blistering attack against Sri Lanka.
He hammered 102 runs off just 40 balls, with 11 sixes and 6 fours, reaching his century in a mere 37 balls. This whirlwind innings earned him the nickname “Boom-Boom” Afridi and established him as one of Pakistan’s finest attacking batters.
Whose Bat Afridi Was Using and Why?
The story behind Afridi’s bat was revealed by the player himself years later. The bat that created history actually belonged to Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar.
Tendulkar had given his favorite bat to Pakistani fast bowler Waqar Younis, reportedly asking him to send it to Sialkot (Pakistan’s famous city for cricket equipment manufacturing) to create a replica. However, Waqar Younis gave that bat to Afridi when he was practicing before the match against Sri Lanka.
According to Afridi: “The bat played a major role in the making of Shahid Afridi. It’s very special for me. In between, I tried to play with it later on but then decided to preserve it.” His former teammate Azhar Mahmood also confirmed this story, stating that Waqar got the bat from Sachin and gave it to Afridi, who “managed to get a hundred and after that, he became a batsman.”
Who Broke Afridi’s Fastest Century Record?
Afridi’s record for the fastest ODI century stood for an impressive 18 years. It wasn’t until 2014 that New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson broke it with a 36-ball hundred.
The record was then shattered by South African captain AB de Villiers, who scored a phenomenal 31-ball century against the West Indies in 2015. De Villiers scored 149 runs in that innings, smashing 16 sixes and 8 fours.
A fascinating statistic about Afridi’s innings is that if you remove his 11 sixes and 6 fours, he made just 12 runs from the remaining 23 balls—highlighting his aggressive “hit big or get out trying” approach.
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Conclusion: Shahid Afridi used Sachin Tendulkar’s Bat to hit a record-breaking century
The story of Shahid Afridi using Sachin Tendulkar’s bat to score the then-fastest ODI century transcends cricket rivalries and showcases a beautiful connection between two cricketing giants from rival nations.
What makes this tale even more special is how this borrowed equipment became the catalyst for launching Afridi’s career as a feared power-hitter. While records are meant to be broken—as Anderson and de Villiers eventually proved—Afridi’s innings remains iconic not just for its aggression and flair, but for the remarkable story behind the bat that made it possible.
This extraordinary piece of cricket lore demonstrates how sportsmanship and camaraderie can exist even amid intense national rivalries, creating moments that enrich the sport’s history.
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