Several Pakistani players participating in the ongoing T20 Blast 2023 (Vitality Blast 2023) in the UK have failed to live up to the expectations. Bowler Naseem Shah, all-rounder Shadab Khan, and batters Shan Masood and Haider Ali have faltered in the tournament so far. However, pacers Shaheen Afridi and Zaman Khan have positively impressed with their performance throughout the league.
Naseem Shah, who was brought in as a short-term replacement for Afghanistan’s Naveen-ul-Haq by Leicestershire, picked up only four wickets in five matches at an average of 35 and an economy rate of 7.36. All-rounder and vice-captain of the Pakistan white-ball team, Shadab Khan, has managed to score just 107 runs in eight matches with an average of 13.37 and a strike rate of 121.59. Shadab’s leg-spin bowling has been equally unimpressive, having secured only six wickets in eight matches at an average of 37.83 and an economy of 9.94.
The performance of Yorkshire captain Shan Masood has been a major disappointment this season. The southpaw has scored 118 runs in nine matches at an average of 16.85 and a strike rate of 126.88. However, Haider Ali, the 22-year-old Pakistani right-hand batter, has shown positive signs with his last five innings seeing him score 16*, 42, 48, 74 and 32. In his most recent game, he scored 26 unbeaten runs off 13 balls against Durham.
Pacer Shaheen Afridi has played nine matches for Nottinghamshire in which he picked 13 wickets at an average of 24 and an economy rate of 8.91. The last four matches have seen him take eight wickets. Zaman Khan, a 20-year-old pacer, has played nine matches for Derbyshire and is the joint fourth-highest wicket-taker in the tournament so far. He has picked up 15 wickets at an average of 19.60 and an economy rate of 8.64. In his most recent match against Durham, he claimed four wickets for 21 runs.
Usama Mir, a leg-spinner who made his Pakistan debut with an ODI match against New Zealand in January 2022, has played four matches for Worcestershire and taken eight wickets at an average of 12.50 and a strike rate of 6.25.
Thus, as the T20 Blast 2023 continues, some Pakistani players have let down their fans, while others have exceeded expectations.
