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Melbourne: Whatever happens when Pakistan face England in Sunday’s MCG final, Shadab Khan has a Twenty20 World Cup to remember.
Starring both bat and ball, the 24-year-old all-rounder helped inspire Pakistan’s flagging campaign when it seemed all was lost.
Shadab pulled them back from the brink with three wickets after last-goal losses to India and Zimbabwe for their first win against the Netherlands.
He then appeared against South Africa with a fiery 22-ball 52 and a 2-16 bowling stat.
Proteas’ subsequent shock defeat to the Netherlands helped Pakistan reach the semi-finals.
Shadab has been shortlisted for the Championship and is likely to win if Pakistan play England in the tiebreaker at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
When teammates and coaches talk about Shadab, they’re all referring to one thing.
“He brings valuable energy to the team,” said captain Babar Azam.
Shadab’s commitment and relentless energy, both in training and in play, inspired Pakistan’s sluggish World Cup.
Like many Pakistani cricketers, Shadab came from humble beginnings.
He grew up playing cricket on the rough pitches of Mianwali District, a farming community near the Indus River in Punjab province.
It also happens to be the home of former prime minister and cricket legend Imran Khan and former captain Misbah-ul-Haq.
Those who know him say that Shadab has been tireless in giving.
“Shadab’s commitment to cricket is unparalleled,” said his club coach Sajjad Ahmed.
“He used to go to bed around 9pm and get to the ground before sunrise.
“It’s been a routine for him over the years so that he can practice as much as possible.”
Ahmed suggested that Shadab should become a generalist and not just focus on batting.
From cricket club to district level and Pakistan ‘A’ grade graduates, Shadab competed in the 2016 Bangladesh Junior World Cup and finished his team’s joint top wicket with 11.
The following year, Pakistan Super League team Islamabad United selected him as an emerging player.
“We were picking players in the 2017 PSL draft and other teams were passing the ball, so I asked Misbah about him,” recalls United strategy manager Hassan Cheema.
“Misbah said Shadab had the kind of passion and instinct he had never seen in a player over the years.
“Six years later, you can see his competitive enthusiasm and the life he brings to the team is priceless,” Chema told AFP.
But talking only about his energy and commitment might belittle Shadab’s talent.
The change as a leg spinner is an asset for Shadab, who has managed to extract rebounds from World Cup hard Australia pitches.
When he hits and pitches, his style is aggressive – his triple ability gives Pakistan flexibility in team selection.
It was then-Pakistan head coach Mitch Arthur who brought him into the team in 2017.
“When we brought Shadab into the team, he was very exciting as a cricketer,” Arthur said.
“He’s athletic, a three-in-one cricketer.”
Since then, Shadab has added maturity and confidence to his arsenal.
“He was a match-winner in Pakistan. The difference I saw was that he went from a boy to a man,” Arthur said.
Shadab was named Player of the Year in Pakistan’s T20 win over West Indies in Bridgetown in 2017, making his dream international debut.
That same year, one of Shadab’s best moments came in a Champions League match against arch-rivals India, when he trapped Yuvraj Singh in front of the wicket.
British referee Richard Kettleborough was unimpressed, but Shadab persuaded skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed to review – and was proven right, making Shadab the winning hero for Pakistan.
“It was very close to the bat, but Shadab was sure it hit the pad first,” Sarfaraz said.
“It’s his confidence on the pitch that helps and inspires the team and that’s why he’s come on so fast.”
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