Abdullah Shafique registers unwanted records in ODI series

• Pakistan’s opening batsman sets a new cricket record by being dismissed for a duck in all matches of the one-day international series.
• His record stands at seven dismissals for zero in 2024, surpassing previous records of six ducks in 32 innings in 2000 and 43 innings in 2012.
• Shafique’s struggles have sparked debates about his place in the national team, especially with upcoming international assignments.

KARACHI: Pakistan’s opening batsman, Abdullah Shafique, has set an unwelcome record in cricket history, becoming the first opening batsman to be dismissed for a duck in all the matches of a one-day international (ODI) series.

Shafique’s tough run continued in the three-match ODI series against South Africa, as he failed to score any runs in all three games.

His dismissal for a duck in Johannesburg marked another unwanted milestone: Shafique now holds the record for the most international ducks by a Pakistani opener in a calendar year. In 2024, the 24-year-old was dismissed for zero seven times out of 21 innings.

This tally surpasses the previous records held by Imran Nazir, who recorded six ducks in 32 innings in 2000, and Mohammad Hafeez, who had the same fate six times in 43 innings in 2012.

The world record for most international ducks in a calendar year by an opener stands at eight, jointly held by South Africa’s Herschelle Gibbs (from 51 innings in 2002) and Sri Lanka’s Tillakaratne Dilshan (from 56 innings in 2012).

Shafique’s continued struggles with the bat have sparked debates about his place in the national team, especially with Pakistan’s upcoming international assignments, including the ICC Champions Trophy set to be held at home.

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