Wasim Akram: “Khushdil also came out of the blue”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Iconic Pakistan pace bowler Wasim Akram admitted that all-rounder Khushdil Shah’s recall to the national team “came out of the blue”.
Khushdil was added to the team for the ODI tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa, and the 2025 Champions Trophy.
It is believed that the 30-year-old was brought back due to his recent performances.
In the Champions T20 Cup, he scored 132 runs in eight matches for the Lions, which included a top score of 57 not out, at an average of 26.40 and a strike-rate of 151.72.
He also took nine wickets at an average of 17.22 and an economy rate of 6.45.
The Bannu native was then involved in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and accumulated 298 runs in 10 matches for the Rangpur Riders, which included two fifties, at an average of 59.60 and a strike-rate of 175.29.
Bowling-wise, Khushdil finished as the joint third-highest wicket-taker with 17 wickets at an average of 9.94 and an economy rate of 6.03.
During the ODI tri-series, he scored 22 runs in three games at an average of 11 and snapped up one wicket at an average of 127.
As for the Champions Trophy, he finished with 107 runs in two games, which included a career-best knock of 69, at an average of 53.50.
He also took one wicket at an average of 83.
Even though his performances have been very good lately, Wasim was still caught off guard by the decision to pick Khushdil for the Champions Trophy.
“Khushdil also came out of the blue,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
Pakistan were eliminated in the group stage of the Champions Trophy after losing to New Zealand and India.
Their last group stage match against Bangladesh was abandoned due to rain.
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