Mohammad Hafeez: “I had planned for Shadab Khan to play as a batter who can bowl in T20 for Pakistan. He should bat in [the] top order in T20”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan team director and interim head coach Mohammad Hafeez wants spin-bowling all-rounder Shadab Khan to bat in the top order in T20Is.
Hafeez noted that during his coaching stint with the national team, he had plans to let the 25-year-old bat higher up as he knew the Mianwali native could handle himself.
This was truly evident during the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL), where Shadab led by example with both the bat and ball while captaining Islamabad United to the title.
In 12 matches, he scored 305 runs, which included three fifties, at an average of 30.50 and a strike-rate of 142.52.
Shadab also claimed 14 wickets at an average of 26.85 and an economy rate of 8.54.
“I had planned for Shadab Khan to play as a batter who can bowl in T20 for Pakistan. He should bat in [the] top order in T20,” Hafeez was quoted as saying by journalist Arfa Feroz Zake on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Following PSL 9, Shadab made 63 runs in Pakistan’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand at an average of 31.50 and a strike-rate of 190.90.
As for the three T20Is against Ireland, he only featured in one game and didn’t score any runs.
Next up for Pakistan will be four T20Is against England from May 22 to May 30.
Pakistan Squad for Ireland and England T20I Series: Babar Azam (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan