In the inaugural Test match of the series in Multan, Pakistan’s opening batsman Abdullah Shafique struck a magnificent century against England in the first innings. With 102 runs off 184 balls, the 24-year-old steadying Pakistan’s innings.
After a run of subpar performances, especially during Pakistan’s most recent 2-0 Test series loss to Bangladesh, Shafique had been under tremendous pressure. But the youthful opener’s recent effort came at a critical moment, as he and captain Shan Masood (151 off 177) combined to establish a 253-run partnership that put the hosts in a commanding position. Shafique thanked Masood and the club management for their support throughout his lean patch during the press conference held after the game.
Athletes must overcome obstacles and experience setbacks. However, I am grateful to the captain and team management for believing in me, providing me with enough games and a fair run, which allowed me to recover,” Shafique remarked.
You experience mental difficulties and self-doubt: Abdullah Shafique
The right-handed batter talked candidly about the psychological struggles and self-doubt that accompany a protracted dip in performance. He did, however, stress the significance of figuring out how to get past these obstacles.
“You go through mental challenges and self-doubts, but in the end, you have to find a way out of them and perform,” he stated.
With the score at 328/4, Shafique’s century and Masood’s forceful blow enabled the Men in Green finish the day on a high note. Currently, the team has completed 146 overs in the game and their score stands at 549/9.
“Because of their freshness, pitches in Test matches are difficult at first. In the first session, the pitch was difficult to bat on, but Masood and I worked well together to strengthen the team.
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Since batting would continue to be difficult because of the cracks, we also hope that Multan’s hard surface will benefit the spinners,” Shafique said.
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