'No surprise in international cricket, nor there is any B or C team': Shadab Khan defends Pakistan for loss to New Zealand's second-string side

SportsTak Desk

• Wed • 24 Apr 2024

Shadab Khan in the pre-match press conference (Screengrab: X)

Highlights:

Shadab Khan delivered exceptional performance with the bat in the third T20I.

Shadab wants his teammates to bat with better strike rate.

Pakistan’s T20I vice-captain Shadab Khan has defended his team after the seven-wicket loss in third T20I to an under-powered New Zealand side which is missing several senior players. Babar Azam-led Pakistan have been on the receiving end of harsh criticism after a comprehensive loss to Michael Bracewell-led New Zealand in Rawalpindi, a day after the hosts bowled them out for a paltry 90. Shadab said that this Kiwi side is not a B or C team

“There are no surprises in international cricket, nor there is any B or C team, we can say that a team has less experience, but that’s it,” the leg-spinner told the reporters in the press conference at Gaddafi Stadium ahead of fourth T20I. “New Zealand played excellent cricket in the third T20I. We cannot put the blame on anyone, we didn’t play well as a team.”

“Any team can beat any team on a given day especially in T20 cricket. New Zealand might not have big names in their squad here but the ones they have will be the stars of tomorrow,” he added.

Shadab also revealed that he has spoken to the team management about the batting order. In the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024, he batted up the order and contributed with electrifying knocks.

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Shadab bats with 200-plus strike rate

Shadab was the standout performer for Pakistan in the third T20I. He came to bat at no.6 and contributed with a 20-ball 41 cameo to push the score to 178/4. He scored with a strike rate of 205, much higher than the top order batters who got starts but failed to convert it into big scores.

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Shadab robbed of game-changing wicket

With the ball, he conceded 24 runs from three overs. He almost got the wicket of Mark Chapman early in the innings but Naseem Shah dropped an easy catch at short fine leg. Chapman was dropped for the first time in the ninth over. He was batting on 16 when he got a reprieve. He went on to score a match-winning 42-ball 87 which was laced with nine fours and four sixes. He carried the run chase on his back despite Dean Foxcroft struggling to rotate the strike in the middle overs.

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