Abdur Rauf: “A similar mistake to what Pakistan did by dropping Abdullah Shafique, who had performed exceptionally well in the [2023] World Cup”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan seamer Abdur Rauf believes it was a mistake to drop opening batsman Abdullah Shafique from the national team.
Shafique used to be one of Pakistan’s go-to openers in Tests and ODIs before losing his spot in both squads.
After getting dismissed for three ducks in a row in the three-match ODI series against South Africa in December 2024, the 25-year-old did not feature for the men in green in their ODI tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa, and the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Even though the Sialkot native wasn’t at his best prior to getting dropped, Rauf feels the national selectors should have continued to back him.
“A similar mistake to what Pakistan did by dropping Abdullah Shafique, who had performed exceptionally well in the [2023] World Cup,” he told the Times of India.
Pakistan lost to New Zealand and India in the Champions Trophy, which led to them getting knocked out in the group stage.
Their final match against Bangladesh was abandoned due to rain.
Pakistan are now taking on New Zealand in a white-ball series and lost the T20Is 4-1.
They are now playing three ODIs and Shafique made his comeback in the 1st ODI, where he made 36 runs.
The men in green lost the 1st ODI by 73 runs and will look to bounce back in the 2nd ODI, which will be held on April 2 in Hamilton.
Pakistan Squad for T20I Series against New Zealand: Hasan Nawaz, Omair Yousuf, Mohammad Haris, Abdul Samad, Salman Ali Agha (captain), Irfan Khan Niazi, Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan, Abbas Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Khan
Pakistan Squad for ODI Series against New Zealand: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Akif Javed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Irfan Khan Niazi, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir
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