Last week's second test between Pakistan and England at Faisalabad neatly summed up the mercurial but flawed genius of Shahid Afridi. After plundering 92 off 85 balls and taking four wickets with his leg-spin, the all rounder was given a three-match ban for scuffing up the pitch to hamper England's batsmen.
It seems the only thing predictable about the 25-year-old Afridi is his unpredictability.
Since scoring a world-record fastest century in his first innings in one-day internationals as a 16-year-old in 1996, Afridi has surprisingly played just 20 tests.
He has, though, featured in 213 one-dayers despite some inconsistency, underachievement and the odd disciplinary problem. Afridi is as free a spirit as you will find in the game and flourishes when left to beat his own drum.
At least that is the attitude that coach Bob Woolmer and captain Inzamam-ul-Haq have taken and it seems to be working.
"When Bob became coach after I was dropped from the Pakistan team, he said `why is this guy not in the side?'" Afridi told Reuters. "He said to the selectors, `I want this guy', so Bob really gave me a lot of confidence; Inzamam as well."
GOOD CONFIDENCE: Afridi added: "My problems started at the beginning (of my career). If I didn't perform in one or two games I didn't know if I would be playing the next game so it affected my confidence and I need to play with confidence.
"Bob gave me very good confidence by telling me not to change my game and to just enjoy it.
"He said 'you won't be dropped, you are our key player'. So to have this confidence from the captain and coach to play in my own style was enough for me."
Marriage and fatherhood have mellowed Afridi, who had been prone to moments of hot-headedness. But in Faisalabad it came back.
"I was very guilty and I still don't know why I did this," Afridi said.
"I thought about it the whole night. I have never been involved in these things before. I was emotional then for reasons I do not know but I said sorry to everyone.
"I can't take it back or forget about it and I will be careful not to do these bad things in future."
BAD IDEA Having worked his way back into favour with the selectors, Afridi might be forgiven for worrying again about his position now that he will miss this week's final test and first two one-dayers.
He said: "Both Bob and Inzy said `Don't worry any more, you will be back, you did it for the team'.
"I told them I didn't do it for the team, I can't explain why I did it. It was a very bad idea.
"It is very bad timing because I was very keen to play all the matches in this big series. I trained a lot for three months for this."
Certainly some of Afridi's form this year demands a second chance. He scored 122 from 95 balls in the West Indies and bludgeoned India for 102 from 46 in a one-dayer, having failed to make a significant score in the four previous matches.
It was the encouragement of an uncle that fuelled his love for cricket but at the end of his playing career he plans to change direction.
"I don't want to be a commentator or a coach or anything like that," he said. "I will go into business. But it has to be something I will enjoy."
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