Pakistan’s bowling all-rounder Shadab Khan was candid about his poor performance in the ongoing Cricket World Cup 2023 during a press conference before the crucial match against South Africa in Chennai. Shadab acknowledged that the team has not performed up to expectations so far in the tournament, but he remains hopeful that they can turn things around.
“We have been in this situation before and we know how to bounce back. We have confidence in ourselves. Every day is not the same, bad days come but they also end. We are aiming for a winning streak, and hopefully, it will start tomorrow,” Shadab told the journalists.
Shadab also emphasized that Pakistan knows how to adapt to the modern-day game. Despite criticism for their low total against Afghanistan, Shadab mentioned that he and Iftikhar Ahmed contributed runs to help the team reach a par score. “In modern-day cricket, a score of 330-350 is considered average. We all have to play with that mindset. Especially for us, when I and Ifti bhai bat, we aim for a par score, and we have achieved that. Hopefully, we will continue to perform like that,” said Shadab.
When asked about the criticism the team has faced after three consecutive losses, Shadab admitted that it is valid, particularly for himself as he has not performed up to his potential. He mentioned that before others criticize, players also reflect on their own performance and understand what went wrong. “Not all days are the same, and we are confident that things will improve from hereon,” Shadab added.
Regarding Pakistan’s bowling performance, Shadab acknowledged that the bowlers have shown glimpses of brilliance but need to maintain consistency. “The bowlers are in a good rhythm. They have performed well in patches. Personally, I haven’t bowled as well as I would have liked, but others have bowled well in patches,” he said.
The upcoming match against South Africa is crucial for Pakistan, almost a make-or-break situation. With four games remaining in the competition, Pakistan needs to win all four to have a chance at reaching the semifinals.