Pakistan batsman Abdullah Shafique: “There are only a few players who can go big from ball one. Personally, I like to take a bit of time before accelerating against the bowlers”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan opening batsman Abdullah Shafique said he likes to “take a bit of time before accelerating” as very few cricketers can start hitting from ball one.
Shafique acknowledged that strike-rate has become increasingly important in modern cricket, but pointed out that he aims to be consistent in his run-scoring so that he can have as big of an impact as possible.
During the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL), the 25-year-old finished as the fourth-highest run-scorer with 390 runs in 13 matches for the Lahore Qalandars, which included three fifties, at an average of 32.50 and a strike-rate of 148.28.
“I always try to stay consistent, though cricket is unpredictable. In today’s game, strike-rate is a crucial factor – you have to be a well-rounded batter to stay relevant,” the Sialkot native was quoted as saying by PakPassion on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“There are only a few players who can go big from ball one. Personally, I like to take a bit of time before accelerating against the bowlers.”
After PSL 10 ended, Pakistan took on Bangladesh in a three-match T20I series, but Shafique was not included in the team.
He also missed the tour of Bangladesh, where the men in green lost the T20I series 2-1.
Since he was overlooked for selection, Shafique went to play county cricket in England and represented Yorkshire in one County Championship match and four Vitality Blast games.
Pakistan are now touring the West Indies for three T20Is and three ODIs.
They won the T20I series 2-1.
Shafique is set to play in the upcoming ODI series, which starts on August 9 in Trinidad, as he was included in the squad.
Pakistan Squad for West Indies T20I Series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sufiyan Muqeem
Pakistan Squad for West Indies ODI Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sufiyan Muqeem