BECKENHAM: Pakistan top-order Abdullah Shafique has responded to praise from West Indies legendary fast bowler and commentator Ian Bishop.
Shafique returned to the Pakistan side in dominant fashion, scoring his sixth Test century in the first innings of the second Test against West Indies in Port of Spain.
This was also the first 150-plus score for a Pakistan batter in the Caribbean in 49 years. Shafique’s marathon knock helped Pakistan level the series 1-1.
During commentary, Bishop drew a connection between Shafique’s elegant batting and Sialkot’s rich literary heritage, which has produced renowned poets and literary icons such as Allama Muhammad Iqbal and Faiz Ahmed Faiz.
He also shared that Babar Azam nicknamed Abdullah the “Kitabi Player” — not because of any literary connection, but because of his purely textbook batting technique.
Abdullah Shafique reacted to the praise from former fast bowler Bishop in an exclusive interview with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
“It is always a matter of pride when respected experts praise you. The ‘textbook shots’ I’ve developed is due the work my uncle and father put into my batting technique growing up,” he said.
The right-hander also spoke about the rigorous batting sessions he underwent as a child and credited his father and uncle for helping develop his technique.
“Not many youngsters go through that kind of rigorous batting sessions these days. I had to go through it because my father and uncle both are former first-class cricketers, so maybe that contributed to me acquiring a few ‘textbook shots’,” Abdullah added.