Pakistan’s head coach Mike Hesson has addressed questions over Shadab Khan’s bowling returns following the second ODI against Australia at Rawalpindi on Tuesday, insisting that the all-rounder’s evolution into a batting-focused role is a deliberate part of Pakistan’s thinking.
Australia won the match by 41 runs, posting 231/9 in their 50 overs before bowling Pakistan out for 190 in 44.
Shadab went wicketless in the match, bowling nine overs for 56 runs. When asked whether Pakistan now rely on him primarily with the bat given his recent lack of bowling wickets, Hesson was direct.
“Yeah, I mean, two parts to that story,” Hesson said. “Shadab has made a transition, I guess, throughout his career, obviously starting more as a bowler who batted. And I think the transition is very much probably a batting all-rounder.”
Shadab batted at number seven, top-scoring for Pakistan with 71 off 104 balls, an innings that kept the chase alive deep into the innings alongside a 59-run seventh-wicket stand with Arafat Minhas, who made 33.
Hesson pointed to where Shadab now sits in the bowling order. “That’s why he bats at six or seven, depending on the situation. And he’s our fifth bowler, you know, along with whether it be Agha [Salman] or Maaz [Sadaqat] in this line-up. So obviously we’ve got four specialist bowlers, and Shadab is more the fifth, along with Agha and Maaz.”
Arafat Minhas, who the journalist referenced as doing the job as an all-rounder, finished with 2/27 from ten overs in Australia’s innings, his economy of 2.70 the best among Pakistan’s bowlers on the day.
Pakistan’s specialist attack was led by Shaheen Shah Afridi, who took 3/36, and Abrar Ahmed with 2/34. Haris Rauf also picked up two wickets but went for 49 from ten overs.
Nathan Ellis was Australia’s standout bowler in reply, claiming 4/33 from nine overs.
The defeat levels the series at 1-1, setting up a decider between the two sides. The third and final ODI will be played on Thursday, 4 June at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
