HYDERABAD, India: Pakistan’s spin bowling all-rounder Shadab Khan said on Sunday that the team with the strongest bowling line, capable of stemming the runs on the batting-friendly pitches in India will win the World Cup 2023.
The 24-year-old is leading Pakistan’s spin attack that has come under serious criticism for not taking wickets in the middle overs.
Shadab Khan himself managed just 6 wickets in five Asia Cup matches in September with four coming against outsiders Nepal in an event where Pakistan crashed out in the Super 4 stage. But Pakistan’s vice-captain hoped the team’s bowling could stage a comeback at the World Cup which gets underway on Thursday.
Shadab told a news conference that he thinks the team that has the best bowling will win the World Cup 2023 because Indian pitches will produce high totals. Pakistan suffered a five-wicket defeat to New Zealand in their first warm-up clash of the tournament on Friday.
They face Australia in their second warm-up match — also in Hyderabad — on Tuesday before opening their World Cup journey against the Netherlands at the same venue three days later.
Despite losing frontline pacer Naseem Shah to a shoulder injury, Shadab Khan insisted that Pakistan still boasts a world-class attack. He said that no doubt Naseem Shah would be missed, but Pakistan’s bowlers are world-class so if they performed well in bowling then the team can achieve the best results.
Leg-break bowler Shadab Khan, who has 88 wickets from 64 ODI matches, vowed to lift his own form in the seven-week mega event.
Shadab Khan Supports Fakhar Zaman
Shadab also backed out-of-form opening batsman Fakhar Zaman who was not asked to bat in Friday’s warm-up match. He said that Fakhar Zaman is an impact player, we all know that. We have given him mental space and we need to support an impact player like him.
Shadab also said the players were overwhelmed by the hospitality since their arrival in Hyderabad, India under tight security on Wednesday. He said that it has been a superb welcome. People coming to the hotel and their hospitality has been fantastic.
Shadab said that the food was also delicious and he feared that the players’ levels and weight would go over the limit.
