Shahid Afridi: “I need Shadab to deliver with the ball. Whenever he has performed with the ball, Pakistan have won”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Legendary Pakistan six-hitter Shahid Afridi believes if spinner Shadab Khan starts getting wickets again, the men in green will win matches.
Shadab has been going through a dry spell in regards to wickets and Afridi called the 25-year-old to get to the bottom of why this is the case.
Pakistan’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand in April 2024 was the last time Shadab took a wicket as he claimed three victims at an average of 18 and an economy rate of 6.75.
Since then, he has not been able to dismiss any batsmen and has conceded plenty of runs while bowling.
In one T20I against Ireland, he gave away 54 runs off four overs, while against England, he leaked 75 runs off the seven overs he bowled.
Shadab is now playing in the 2024 T20 World Cup and conceded 27 runs off three overs in the opening game against the United States of America.
In Pakistan’s next two matches against India and Canada, he didn’t bowl at all.
“I need Shadab to deliver with the ball. Whenever he has performed with the ball, Pakistan have won. I have watched all of his matches in the past. We had a detailed chat… I asked him who is guiding him or if there is something he is not doing, how are you making such mistakes is there no one to tell you?” Afridi was quoted as saying by Geo Super.
“I called… because I know he is going through a difficult time so I always try to help and motivate players who are having a hard time. Similarly, I talked with Shadab about what he is doing wrong and I hope that if he does [what he discussed] in training sessions, you will see the difference.
“Is there any leg-spin coach with the team? Saeed Ajmal was there but he was an off-spinner. Ajmal should be asked if he guided Shadab and why is he not doing what he was told.
“I know there must be tremendous pressure on Shadab but big players know how to pull themselves out of such situations. I shared with him one to two problems I found with his bowling and I’m hoping that he will work on those things.”
The men in green lost their first two T20 World Cup matches against the United States of America and India before securing a much-needed seven-wicket victory over Canada.
Their next game will be against Ireland on June 16 in Lauderhill.
Pakistan Squad for 2024 T20 World Cup: Babar Azam (capt), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan (wk), Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Abbas Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
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