Atiq-uz-Zaman: “Still think that [Abdullah] Shafique doesn’t fit in the team”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan cricketer Atiq-uz-Zaman said he still believes opening batsman Abdullah Shafique “doesn’t fit in the team”.
Shafique is one of the brightest prospects in Pakistan cricket and has shown potential so far in his career.
The 25-year-old has scored 1,504 runs in 22 Tests, which includes five centuries and five fifties, at an average of 38.56.
In ODIs, he has amassed 612 runs in 20 matches, which includes a hundred and six half-centuries, at an average of 34.
As for his T20I career, the Sialkot native has made 64 runs in six games at an average of 12.80.
Despite showing promising signs, Atiq isn’t convinced that Shafique belongs in the Pakistan team.
“Still think that [Abdullah] Shafique doesn’t fit in the team,” he said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Shafique recently featured in Pakistan’s limited overs series against Australia and accumulated 113 runs in three ODIs, which included a top score of 64 not out, at an average of 56.50.
He then proceeded to score 83 runs in three ODIs against Zimbabwe, which included a top score of 50, at an average of 41.50.
Currently, Pakistan are touring South Africa and kicked things off on a disappointing note as they were crushed 2-0 in the T20I series.
However, the men in green have bounced back in the ODI series as they hold a 2-0 lead going into the 3rd ODI on December 22 in Johannesburg.
Shafique will be looking for a big score in the 3rd ODI as he was dismissed for a duck in the first two matches.
After the ODI series, Pakistan and South Africa will play two Tests, with the first match starting on December 26 in Centurion.
Pakistan Squad for South Africa T20I Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa ODI Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa Test Series: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha