SHARJAH: Pakistan team batting coach Muhammad Yousuf lauded the young pacer, Naseem Shah, for his heroic batting effort in the Asia Cup game against Afghanistan on Wednesday, calling his two match-winning sixes in the final over the best shots of his career. 

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, the national team’s batting coach stated that the sixes hit by Naseem Shah were as memorable as Miandad’s final ball six in Sharjah in 1986 against India.

“We had started batting practice of Naseem at the academy two years ago and last night he gave a positive response to that and showcased a magnificent display of batting,” he said.

“When a player plays according to the situation it benefits the team and it benefits him as well. Those two shots by Naseem will be the best shot of his career” he added.

“The sixes were monumental. Might not be as historic as Miandad’s six since it was against India, however, if we look at the situation that we were into, those sixes are definitely memorable,” he added.

Talking about Babar’s dismal run with the bat in the ongoing Asia Cup, Yousuf said that there was nothing with his form or technique it was just hard luck.

“Babar is a world-class player. It’s not unusual that sometimes you try to give the best performance but still get out early,” he said.

He is not undergoing a rough phase or anything like that, it’s just the luck which is not in his favour.” he added

“The way he is playing his shots and the way he middles the ball it cannot be said that he is out-of-form, It is just the bad luck,” he said. “A top performer like Babar cannot fail if he sticks to the basics and continues to play with the right technique”

While opining on Rizwan’s sublime form in the tournament, Yousuf praised the fighting spirit of the No.1 T20I batter of the world.

“Rizwan battles for the team. Despite getting hurt in the match against India he was running enthusiastically between the wicket during the batting,” he concluded.

It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan edged past Afghanistan in a final-over nail-biter courtesy of two astounding sixes from Pakistan pacer Naseem that powered the side into the final of Asia Cup 2022.

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