KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez feels all-rounder Shadab Khan should play as a batting all-rounder and not a bowling all-rounder. Shadab, 25, is the captain of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Islamabad United, where he has risen through the ranks on several occasions.
He scored 278 runs in nine innings at a strike rate of 145.54 with the help of three fifties. During an interview with a local sports channel, Hafeez emphasized that Shadab is the one who can solve Pakistan’s middle-order problems. “Shadab is the only hope and we need to boost his confidence as he has batting ability.
“We should use him as a batting all-rounder rather than primarily as an all-rounder,” he added. Hafeez mentioned that apart from Iftikhar Ahmed, no other batsman did well when batting lower down the order. “Pakistan still has a problem in the middle order.
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Currently, the players who play in the PSL are either in the top order or in the third position,” he said. Earlier, Misbah-ul-Haq also named Shadab among his potential assets to strengthen Pakistan’s middle-order batting line-up for the 2024 T20 World Cup. “Potentially, the names I see are easy.
Agha Salman is there, Azam Khan is there, Iftikhar Ahmed is there and Shadab Khan is there. As for Fakhar, you are already thinking about him,” Misbah said. It should be noted that the T20 World Cup 2024 is scheduled to begin on June 1, 2024, with the USA and West Indies co-hosting.
The eagerly awaited match between Pakistan and India is scheduled for June 9 at Eisenhower Park in New York. Meanwhile, ahead of the World Cup, the Men in Green are in line to play 12 T20Is. They host New Zealand for five T20Is in Pakistan while traveling to Ireland and England for three and four T20Is respectively.
