Wasim Akram: “He said in the post-match press conference that the wicket was a bit difficult which is why I wanted to send in a proper batter. I hope that was a language barrier because if that’s case it means that he will come out to bat early when the pitch is easy but send anyone else if that’s not the case”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Legendary Pakistan left-arm seamer Wasim Akram has slammed spin-bowling all-rounder Shadab Khan, questioning whether he promotes himself up the batting order when the pitch is easy to bat on.
Shadab is currently captaining Islamabad United in the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL) and has played a number of match-winning knocks in the top order.
He made 74 not out against the Lahore Qalandars batting at number three and 80 against the Peshawar Zalmi batting at number four.
However, the 25-year-old came in at number seven against the Multan Sultans and only made 11.
Wasim was quick to jump on Shadab’s comments about the wicket being difficult during the post-match press conference, which really angered him.
“When you have a captain who is in form and scored 74 in 41 balls in the previous match, why didn’t he come in to bat at three or four? He said in the post-match press conference that the wicket was a bit difficult which is why I wanted to send in a proper batter. I hope that was a language barrier because if that’s case it means that he will come out to bat early when the pitch is easy but send anyone else if that’s not the case,” the Sultan of Swing was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
In the six matches he has played in PSL 9, Shadab has scored 183 runs at an average of 45.75 and a strike-rate of 147.58.
He has also taken nine wickets at an average of 18.88 and an economy rate of 7.39.
Islamabad United Squad for PSL 9: Shadab Khan (captain), Naseem Shah, Jordan Cox, Imad Wasim, Azam Khan, Tymal Mills, Faheem Ashraf, Alex Hales, Colin Munro, Rumman Raees, Matthew Forde, Salman Ali Agha, Qasim Akram, Shahab Khan, Hunain Shah, Ubaid Shah, Shamyl Hussain, Obed McCoy, Haider Ali, Muhammad Waseem