Shadab eager to return

Pakistan will take on West Indies in the three-match T20I series starting on June 8

Pakistan’s star all-rounder and vice-captain of the limited-overs team Shadab Khan is eager to take the field in national colours after a span of about six months.

Shadab last featured in Pakistan national team on December 16, 2021, in Karachi against West Indies and he is all set to make his comeback on June 8 in ODIs in Multan against the same side.

Shadab had to be withdrawn from the three ODIs and one-off T20I against Australia in Lahore earlier in the year because of an injury.

The 23-year-old recently returned to Pakistan after his short stint in England’s county cricket for Yorkshire. He played four T20s for the English county side, where he managed to take just one wicket and scored 22 runs in three innings.

Upon his return, he expressed excitement to play for his country again.

“I am very delighted to be back in the side and be amongst my friends as I had played the last for Pakistan in December,” said the vice-captain while talking to the Pakistan Cricket Board. “It is a different feeling altogether to play for your country, which makes coming back to this dressing room even more exciting.”

Pakistan are currently placed ninth in the Super League rankings with 60 points – one place above the West Indies – and a series win – whether 2-1 or 3-0 – will see them jump to the third spot.

The leg-spinner is paying special attention to this upcoming campaign against the two-time World Champions as he has not played much competitive cricket recently.

“The upcoming series is quite significant for me as I have not played any international and much domestic cricket recently, and I am making a return after injury,” he maintained. “Another reason that makes this series important is that we are playing it in our country and in Multan.”

Shadab is hopeful that he will be able to perform for the team as this series is important in terms of Super League points, promising the fans that they will get to watch entertaining action.

“I am looking forward to doing well for my team as these three ODIs are very important because of the Super League points. I am sure fans will get to see a good series and we will continue the Australia series momentum,” he said.

The man in form

Before being sidelined due to an injury, Shadab was in form of his life, leading Pakistan to the T20 World Cup 2021 semi-final and Islamabad United to the playoffs in the Pakistan Super League 2022.

Shadab took nine wickets in six matches for his team in the global T20I tournament that took place in the UAE, which included four crucial wickets on the big occasion against the mighty Aussies in the semi-final.

On the other hand, the 23-year-old, while captaining the two-time PSL Champions, took 19 wickets in nine matches and emerged as the second-highest wicket-taker of the tournament just behind Lahore Qalandars’ captain Shaheen Shah Afridi who dismissed 20 batters in 13 games.

Moreover, the all-rounder had scored 268 runs in eight innings at a strike rate of 162.42, which spoke volumes about the youngster’s potential. The promising cricketer has not played a single ODI since July 2021.