Abdullah Shafique: “It feels great to score runs for Pakistan. Red-ball cricket is not easy, but I was trusting the process”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Opening batsman Abdullah Shafique admitted that it “feels great to score runs for Pakistan” after questions were raised about his spot in the side following a string of subpar performances.
Shafique only managed to make 42 runs in two Tests against Bangladesh at an average of 10.50.
With his form having been on a downward spiral, the 24-year-old silenced his critics with a phenomenal century in the first Test against England in Multan.
The Sialkot native scored 102 off 184 balls, which included 10 boundaries and two sixes.
Ultimately, Shafique finished the three-Test series with 132 runs at an average of 26.40.
“It feels great to score runs for Pakistan. Red-ball cricket is not easy, but I was trusting the process,” he was quoted as saying by journalist Farid Khan on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Pakistan defeated England 2-1 to register their first Test series win at home since 2021.
Pakistan will now tour Australia, where they will play three ODIs and three T20Is from November 4 to 18.
After that, they will travel to Zimbabwe for three ODIs and three T20Is from November 24 to December 5.
Pakistan Squad for Australia ODI Series: Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi
Pakistan Squad for Australia T20I Series: Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Omair Bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Usman Khan
Pakistan Squad for Zimbabwe ODI Series: Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shahnawaz Dahani, Tayyab Tahir
Pakistan Squad for Zimbabwe T20I Series: Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Irfan Khan, Omair bin Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan