Mohammad Hafeez: “Shadab hasn’t shown that sharpness in his bowling, so I don’t think he deserves a place in the team at this time. However, if he becomes captain, then I will be really surprised”
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Former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Hafeez has admitted that he would be “really surprised” if spin-bowling all-rounder Shadab Khan were to be appointed T20I captain.
Salman Ali Agha currently leads in the shortest format, but rumours are rife about whether his tenure is nearing its end.
Should that turn out to be the case, Hafeez doesn’t think Shadab is the best man to succeed Salman as he feels the 27-year-old shouldn’t even be in the side because of his poor bowling.
“He is a bowling all-rounder. In the T20 format, he has to bowl his full four overs, and then his batting comes into play. But so far, Shadab hasn’t shown that sharpness in his bowling, so I don’t think he deserves a place in the team at this time. However, if he becomes captain, then I will be really surprised,” he was quoted as saying by Geo Super.
Shadab was not selected for Pakistan’s recent two-Test series against the West Indies, which ended as a 1-1 draw.
Pakistan are now gearing up to take on England in a three-Test series, ,which will be held from August 19 to September 13.
Pakistan Squad for England Test Series: Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Awais Zafar, Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel (subject to fitness), Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah