Afridi arrives to raise the heat for Brisbane: 'That's why I'm here'

Mitchell Starc can take some of the credit as Shaheen Shah Afridi arrives in Australia as part of a star-studded Pakistan contingent to lead Brisbane Heat's depleted attack in the BBL.

Afridi, the towering left-arm quick, is a hardened three-format international at just 25, and was taken with the first pick by Heat in June's draft. A season-ending injury to Spencer Johnson and Michael Neser's Test duties mean Johan Botha's side will be leaning heavily on the man who recently took over as Pakistan's ODI captain.

"They [Johnson and Neser] are experienced bowlers for this team and I hope I play my role, that's why I'm here," Afridi said on Wednesday. "In all three [disciplines]... fielding, and if I need, chipping in batting as well, I'll give my best. It's not a small league and [is] well-renowned as the best league and... the best cricket with the best players."

Afridi will line up against Melbourne Renegades on his BBL debut on Monday, and will be pitted against the man he replaced as Pakistan's white-ball skipper, Mohammad Rizwan.

Babar Azam (Sydney Sixers), Hasan Ali (Adelaide Strikers), Haris Rauf (Melbourne Stars) and Shadab Khan (Sydney Thunder) will also feature in the tournament, which begins on Sunday.

"First game against Rizzy... a world-quality player. And Babar's here as well," Afridi said. "They know me, I know them. Hopefully we play some good cricket here. And we're really hopeful we get the Pakistani support, and the Asian community as a whole."

Afridi has taken 126 wickets and gone for less than eight runs an over in 96 T20Is, while his Test average (27) and strike rate (52) are up there among the best in the current game.

Starc's 414th Test wicket at the Gabba last week saw him overtake Afridi's compatriot Wasim Akram as the most lethal left-arm fast bowler in Test history.

"The greats are always great," Afridi said of Akram, but also talked about the exposure to Starc, ten years his senior, on his first international tour as a 16-year-old, which he said had played a huge part in his own story.

Afridi, whose older brother Riaz had already played Test cricket for Pakistan, was plucked from the country's popular tape-ball circuit for a development tour of Australia, and played Test cricket himself barely three years later.

"He [Starc] is a legend and last time when we chatted, I told him I watched his 2015 [World Cup] bowling spell and that's why I bowled fuller to the batsman," Afridi said. "I can say he's a role model for any youngster... he's been the best for Australia for many years."