Sohaib Maqsood: “Abdullah has technical issues against the new ball. He plays with hard hands and commits early to deliveries. He needs to spend more time in domestic cricket to refine his skills”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan batsman Sohaib Maqsood has highlighted certain technical issues opener Abdullah Shafique has when facing the new ball.
He noted that the 25-year-old “plays with hard hands and commits early to deliveries”, which is causing him to get out early.
Maqsood’s comments come after Shafique endured a torrid time in the three-match ODI series against South Africa, where he was dismissed for a duck in each match.
In order to solve these issues, the 37-year-old advised Shafique to return to domestic cricket.
“People often associate good technique with pretty cover drives or high elbows, but Abdullah has technical issues against the new ball. He plays with hard hands and commits early to deliveries. He needs to spend more time in domestic cricket to refine his skills,” Maqsood was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
Shafique was dropped for Pakistan’s recent two-Test series against the West Indies, which ended as a 1-1 draw.
He also wasn’t picked for Pakistan’s ODI tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa, and the 2025 Champions Trophy, which will be held 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