Pakistan’s all-rounder Shadab Khan has sounded a clarion call to the national team’s batters, stressing the importance of improving their strike rate ahead of the T20 World Cup.
Following a significant defeat against New Zealand in the third T20I, questions have arisen regarding Pakistan’s intent and performance, prompting Shadab to address the pressing need for enhancement in their gameplay.
The right-handed all-rounder showed aggressive intent and scored a quick 41 off 20 towards the end helping Pakistan muster a respectable total in the aforementioned match.
Meanwhile, Pakistan captain Babar Azam and wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan faced criticism for their slow batting in the middle overs. They collectively scored a meagre 59 runs in 50 balls.
Reflecting on Pakistan’s recent loss to New Zealand, Shadab Khan acknowledged the exemplary cricket displayed by the opposition.
He emphasized that in international cricket, there are no second-string teams, underlining the importance of consistent performance regardless of the opponent’s perceived experience level.
“There are no surprises in international cricket, nor there is any B or C team, we can say that a team has less experience, but that’s it,” Shadab said.
Stressing the significance of aggressive batting, he highlighted the correlation between boundary-hitting prowess and match-winning prospects.
According to Shadab, the team’s ability to score boundaries will be a determining factor in securing victories against top-tier teams.
“Strike rate is very important and we are trying [to improve it]. We have to play with a good strike rate against big teams. I believe that the team that scores more boundaries in a match has better chances to win,” he added.
Shadab Khan also emphasized the need for clarity regarding players’ roles and batting orders, emphasizing the importance of continuity and consistency in the team’s composition.
“The World Cup is right on the corner, every player should know his role and their batting order, as it is something in talks these days.”
Despite the setback against New Zealand, Shadab expressed confidence in Pakistan’s potential to clinch the World Cup title.
“I believe we have the team that can win the World Cup and we should make the combination that could play with continuity. There are nine more matches [before the World Cup], we should make the combination.”
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