All the talks concerning the Pakistan group being closely reliant on their high three forward of the ICC World Cup 2023 had been put to the check within the first recreation itself once they discovered themselves tottering at 38/3 – the highest three, by the way 2 of whom are within the high 10 run-getters checklist for ODIs in 2023 – had been despatched again by the Netherlands bowlers inside the primary 10 overs of their opener on the Rajiv Gandhi International stadium, Uppal on Friday.
Knowing how mercurial Pakistan might be, these had been worrying indicators. Pakistan, enjoying in India for the primary time in 7 years, albeit in opposition to a weaker opposition, wouldn’t have needed this sort of a begin. Of course there nonetheless was Mohammad Rizwan at No.4, the third Pakistan participant within the high 10 checklist for many ODI runs this 12 months up to now, however the query was who would shoulder the duty of rescuing Pakistan from a precarious place with the chirpy wicketkeeper-batter.
The reply got here within the type of Saud Shakeel. The 28-year-old from Sind, a former Pakistan Shaheen’s captain, who performed a complete of just one ODI this 12 months – and two when you prolong it to March 2022 – discovered himself with a possibility not many 28-year-olds get as of late – a second probability.
ICC World Cup : Schedule | Results | Points Table | Most Runs | Most Wickets
A proficient batter, he had already made waves in Test cricket, boasting a powerful common of 87.14 throughout 13 innings. However, it was the ODI format that he was confronted along with his biggest problem as of but.
But using on the excessive of the Test type, Shakeel confirmed readability of thought in what he needed to do and naturally some beautiful array of photographs to assist Pakistan out of the outlet. “I was clear in my mind that I wanted to attack and play positive cricket,” Shakeel stated in reply to a News18 CricketSubsequent question after the match, including, “Rizwan Bhai’s role was to go long but my plan was simple. I focused on a few bowlers from the Netherlands. If I had to hit from above, I would take a chance. I did that. I took a chance. I was trying to stay positive and kept attacking the bowlers I had targeted.”
Shakeel was not even in rivalry for the World Cup 2023 simply over a few months again. Tayyab Tahir, Pakistan’s ACC Men’s Emerging Cup star was added to the Asia Cup 2023 squad and it largely appeared just like the middle-order is kind of set relying on the circumstances with Pakistan opting to go together with Salman Aga, or experiment with Tahir.
But issues modified and as an alternative of Tahir Shakeel bought the nod; despite the fact that he performed one recreation returning with simply 9 runs, he was endured with.
READ: PAK vs NED, World Cup 2023: Bas de Leede’s Valiant Effort Falls Short for the Dutch vs Pakistan
Team Director Mickey Arthur had picked out Shakeel for some particular reward on the pre-match presser and teammate Rizwan too didn’t maintain again on the reward for the left-hand batter after the match. “He has gifts that make him a different kind of superstar. If he continues the hard work, then Pakistan will have found themselves another superstar”, stated Rizwan.
Shakeel did have a nervy begin, to start with, with a few streaky boundaries, one in every of which may very nicely have spelt doom for him, however as he conceded later, luck performed some half earlier than his instincts took over. “Of course, there were nerves. But I was lucky that I found a few odd boundaries. Sometimes it happens that you find such boundaries, it makes it easier for you,” he stated.
But greater than luck and intuition, it was a centered coaching regime geared toward filling Pakistan’s No.5 spot that helped Shakeel get a second crack on the white-ball format. After his Test exploits, he didn’t need to be solid as a one-format participant.
“I performed very well in the Test matches, so my confidence level was very high,” he started, including, “But at the same time, I was focusing a lot on my white-ball cricket. I was focusing a lot on my game. I could see that my numbers for playing for Pakistan were 5-6 (batting order). Babar Azam plays at 3 and Rizwan plays at 4. I tried to develop my game and worked hard for it.
A person has a vision and works hard for it. I tried the same. I could see that I am not playing much One-Day cricket, not much white-ball domestic cricket in Pakistan in which I can prove my point.”
Further elaborating on the preparation, Shakeel stated it was extra of a mindset change than the rest. “I think it was more of a mindset change. A few years back I never used to hit big like this, I didn’t take many chances. I preferred to play on the ground. But I made my mindset that I have to accept one thing, where are your numbers to play against Pakistan? It is very important to realize this as a player. So, I made my game plan accordingly,” Shaheel, who made 68 off 52 balls, informed reporters in the course of the post-match presser.
En path to the knock, Shakeel notched up the 2nd quickest 50-over World Cup fifty for Pakistan after Inzamam ul Haq’s 31-ball effort within the 1992 World Cup.
Also on show was Shakeel’s sharp eye when he noticed an additional fielder contained in the 30-yard circle. He took benefit of asking the umpire for a no-ball after which masterfully leveraged a six off a free hit to interrupt the shackles.
So a lot so was the boldness with which Shakeel was batting, Rizwan later stated that he did really feel the necessity to plan something in the course of the essential partnership with Shakeel. “While I plan things with Babar Azam in a partnership, with Saud I told him I’m not planning anything with you, because the way he plays his shots, he will get runs anyway. If he plays like he normally does, he’ll be fine and score quickly”.
Shakeel’s knock was certainly a revelation, and in ways in which reaffirmed what Arthur had stated earlier, that Pakistan’s batting depth goes past Babar Azam and Rizwan. It is a pat on the again of this late bloomer who appeared to have seized the second on the proper time, and that bodes nicely for Pakistan as they go additional deep within the match.
India at Asian Games: FULL COVERAGE | MEDAL TALLY | RESULTS | SCHEDULE
Source: www.news18.com
