Pakistan big-hitter Khushdil Shah: “The sixth or seventh position is one of the toughest roles in cricket. Not many understand the challenges that come with it”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan power-hitter Khushdil Shah feels many people don’t understand how tough it is to bat at number six or seven.
He noted that it is “one of the toughest roles in cricket” as he often has to come in and start attacking right from the get-go.
Khushdil recently featured in Pakistan’s ODI tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa, and scored 22 runs in three matches at an average of 11.
He also took one wicket at an average of 127.
The 30-year-old from Bannu then took part in the 2025 Champions Trophy and accumulated 107 runs in two games, which included a career-best knock of 69, at an average of 53.50.
Bowling-wise, he picked up one wicket at an average of 83.
Following the Champions Trophy, Khushdil was part of Pakistan’s squad for the limited overs tour of New Zealand.
In the five-match T20I series, he scored 40 runs in four games at an average of 13.33 and claimed one wicket at an average of 46.
Pakistan and New Zealand then played three ODIs, but Khushdil was not part of the playing XI for any of the matches.
“The sixth or seventh position is one of the toughest roles in cricket. Not many understand the challenges that come with it. My performances in domestic cricket, where I’ve often batted at sixth or seventh position, are there for everyone to see, People don’t realise how much hard work goes into being a cricketer,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
Khushdil is now representing the Karachi Kings in the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL) and has made 182 runs in eight matches, which includes a top score of 60, at an average of 30.33 and a strike-rate of 138.93.
He has also picked up six wickets at an average of 29.16 and an economy rate of 7.95.
PSL 10 began on April 11 and will conclude on May 18.
Karachi Kings Squad for PSL 10:
- Platinum: Adam Milne, David Warner (captain), Abbas Afridi
- Diamond: Hasan Ali, James Vince, Khushdil Shah
- Gold: Aamer Jamal, Irfan Khan, Shan Masood
- Silver: Arafat Minhas, Litton Das, Mir Hamza, Tim Seifert, Zahid Mahmood
- Emerging: Fawad Ali, Muhammad Riazullah
- Supplementary: Kane Williamson, Mohammad Nabi, Omair Yousuf, Mirza Mamoon