Sikandar Raza: “I’m praying really hard for Abdullah to find form because he is going to be a big, big superstar in all forms of the game”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza said he is “praying really hard” for Abdullah Shafique to regain his form as he believes the Pakistan opening batsman “is going to be a big, big superstar in all forms of the game”.
Shafique toured Australia with the Pakistan team and scored 113 runs in three ODIs, which included a top score of 64 not out, at an average of 56.50.
He then proceeded to maker 83 runs in three ODIs against Zimbabwe, which included a top score of 50, at an average of 41.50.
However, the 25-year-old’s form plummeted in the three-match ODI series against South Africa as he was dismissed for a duck in every match.
Shafique didn’t feature in the two-Test series against the Proteas and was dropped for the two Tests Pakistan played against the West Indies in Multan.
Despite these setbacks, Raza is confident that the Sialkot native will become one of the best batsmen in world cricket.
“I’m praying really hard for Abdullah to find form because he is going to be a big, big superstar in all forms of the game,” he told Cricket Pakistan.
Shafique was not selected in Pakistan’s team for the 2025 Champions Trophy, which will be played from February 19 to March 9.
Pakistan Squad for 2025 Champions Trophy: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah