Ashes 2023: Shaheen Afridi welcomed with tunes of ‘Dil-Dil Pakistan’ at Edgbaston on Day 4

Shaheen Shah Afridi. (Photo Source: Twitter)

The exhilarating action of Ashes 2023 continued on Day 4 at Edgbaston as England resumed their innings on 28/2. Overnight batters Joe Root and Ollie Pope started in grand fashion as they scored 43 runs in the first five overs of the day. Root made his intentions clear on the first ball of the day as he tried to reverse scoop Pat Cummins.

While fans were enjoying cricketing action on the pitch, there was a special guest in the Edgbaston crowd, as star Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi was present at the venue. The cricketer was greeted with the tunes of ‘Dil-Dil Pakistan’ as a fan played the famous Pakistan song on a trumpet. The fans also chanted ‘Pakistan Zindabad!’ in a lovely gesture towards the seamer.

England’s famous fan group ‘Barmy Army’ shared the video on Twitter and wrote, “Dil Dil Pakistan! Nice to meet you @iShaheenAfridi, what a legend ❤️”

Dil Dil Pakistan!
Nice to meet you @iShaheenAfridi, what a legend ❤️ pic.twitter.com/wu2zcRdtnW

— England’s Barmy Army 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🎺 (@TheBarmyArmy) June 19, 2023

Coming back to the match, after a brisk start to the day for England, captain Pat Cummins brought his team back into the game by dismissing Pope (14) with a searing yorker. Harry Brook walked in at number four and kept the intensity high as the duo added 52 runs for the fourth wicket.

England extend their lead beyond 250 on Day 4

Joe Root (46 off 55) got dismissed trying to take on Nathan Lyon and got stumped for the first time in his career. Brook also departed after scoring 46 off 52 as England lost their fifth wicket on 150. After getting out for just one in the first innings, Captain Stokes played a brilliant knock of 43 (66) and helped his side surpass the 200-run mark.

 Contributions from Jonny Bairstow (20) and Moeen Ali (19) further helped England accumulate a lead of over 250 runs in the first innings. However, Australian bowlers made sure that England did not run away with the game, picking wickets regularly to restrict them to 273 in 66.2 overs.