KARACHI: Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan has insisted that green shirts are lagging behind in modern cricket as efforts are now being made to address the issue.
Shadab, who has represented Pakistan in six Tests, 73 ODIs and 124 T20Is, was asked during an interview with a local digital cricket site why the national team has not won a major tournament since winning the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy in 2017.
The 27-year-old, in response, shrugged off their struggles in coming to grips with the demands of modern-day cricket, stressing that they have to accept flaws as they come.
However, he said acceptance of Pakistan’s lagging behind in modern-day cricket has begun to flourish within the organization and efforts are now being made to address the concern.
“I think everyone has their own individual factors, but I feel we are very behind in the way modern cricket is played and we still don’t understand it. First we have to accept it and only then we can try to adapt to it,” Shadab said.
“I think in the last year or a half, it’s now accepted that we’re behind in modern cricket and efforts are being made to correct that. You have to climb the stairs slowly. If you try to jump, you make more mistakes,” he added.
Pakistan have lost 12 games against traditional rivals across the two white-ball formats since their massive 10-wicket victory over India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021, and Shadab, who was part of the historic triumph, opined that the intensity of the blockbuster is often determined.
“Sometimes if India win the match it looks like they have won the World Cup and if they lose it looks like they have lost the World Cup. It is just another tournament like any other tournament,” Shadab said.
Shadab also welcomed a change of leadership in the national men’s Test team, with star batsman Babar Azam replacing Shaun Masood in the role following the two-match series defeat at the hands of Bangladesh.
Babar’s first assignment as Pakistan Test captain is the two-match series against the West Indies, which began earlier today at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Dharuba, and Shadab is confident that the national team will emerge victorious in the ongoing challenge.
“I think it will be a good change for Pakistan. I wish him and the whole team all the best for a win in the West Indies,” he remarked.