Former captain Wasim Akram has raised questions over Shadab Khan’s decision to bat at number seven during Islamabad United’s match against Multan Sultans in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 9.
Akram, while speaking during The Pavillion, expressed disappointment over Islamabad United’s captain coming to bat in the lower order despite showing good form in the last match.
Shadab Khan came in to bat at number three during the opening PSL 9 game against Lahore Qalandars and led his team to victory with a blistering half-century.
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However, in yesterday’s match, he came in to bat at number seven and scored a meagre 11 runs from nine balls before his team bundled out at 144.
“When you have a captain who is in form and scored 74 in 41 balls in the previous match, why didn’t he come in to bat at three or four?” Akram questioned.
“He [Shadab] said in the post-match press conference that the wicket was a bit difficult which is why I wanted to send in a proper batter.
"Don't they assess the pitch condition?" #WasimAkram questions #IslamabadUnited's batting strategy.#ASportsHD #ThePavilion #HBLPSL9 #WasimAkram #MohammadHafeez #MisbahUlHaq #AzharAli #FakhareAlam #MSvIU pic.twitter.com/4WacknvnW4
— ASports (@asportstvpk) February 20, 2024
“I hope that was a language barrier because if that’s the case it means that he will come out to bat early when the pitch is easy but send anyone else if that’s not the case.”
For the unversed, Multan Sultans defeated Islamabad United by five wickets courtesy of Reeza Hendricks’s second consecutive half-century.