In a bid to boost morale and provide guidance, former Pakistani cricket captain Shahid Afridi extended a helping hand to spinner Shadab Khan following a challenging performance in the second T20I against England. The match, held at the Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham, witnessed England secure a 23-run victory as Pakistan fell short of the 184-run target, succumbing at 160 runs in 19.2 overs.
Shadab Khan endured a tough outing, conceding 55 runs in his four overs without managing to take any wickets — marking his worst bowling figures in T20Is. This performance echoed a similar struggle he faced in a Pakistan Super League (PSL) match against Peshawar Zalmi in 2021.
Afridi, speaking with a local news channel, disclosed his recent conversation with Shadab, where he aimed to instill confidence and offer insights into areas of improvement. “I need Shadab to deliver with the ball,” Afridi emphasized, highlighting the pivotal role Shadab plays in Pakistan’s victories. “We had a detailed chat yesterday, I asked him who is coaching him or if there is something he is not doing, how are you making such mistakes is there no one to tell you?”
Expressing concern over the lack of specialized coaching for leg-spinners within the national team setup, Afridi pointed out the absence of a dedicated mentor for Shadab. “Is there any leg-spin coach with the team? Saeed Ajmal was there but he was an off-spinner,” he remarked, suggesting the need for tailored guidance for Shadab’s unique skill set.
Despite acknowledging the pressure on Shadab, Afridi remained optimistic about his ability to overcome challenges. “Big players know how to pull themselves out of such situations,” he stated, while outlining specific areas for improvement discussed with Shadab.
As Pakistan gears up for the remainder of the series against England, all eyes will be on Shadab Khan’s response to Afridi’s mentorship as the team aims to bounce back in the upcoming matches.
The Pakistan versus England series schedule stands as follows:
- 28 May – 3rd T20I, Cardiff
- 30 May – 4th T20I, The Oval
