Sharjeel Khan to stick to wham-bam batting style

Left-hand opener observes improvement in his own fitness and fielding after Kakul camp

Pakistan left-hand blistering opener Sharjeel Khan thinks staying true to his natural batting style will help him develop his repute as an attacking batsman.

“Obviously in T20Is and ODIs it is necessary to play your shots as soon as you get in and without too much regard for the opposition bowling or field settings,” he said. “In a four-day game you have more attacking fields so you have to be a bit more careful and take your time but it’s important that I stay true to myself and remain positive. If the ball is there to be hit and in my zone then I will go for it, but if it is a good ball I will show it the appropriate respect.”

The 26-year-old is confident he can make it into the longest format. “I have a good first-class record, averaging over 37 from 71 matches with eleven centuries and nineteen fifties. So it’s definitely one of my targets to become a Test player for Pakistan but before that I want to focus on the present and perform well in these four-day matches for Pakistan A.”

Sharjeel also clarified that all his prime focus and energy is targeted towards performing for his country. “The main thing is for me to serve my country in whatever way possible and in any format. Ultimately it’s all about performance and doing the best for my country,” said Sharjeel.

Sharjeel, who has been criticised time and again for his physique, also commented on the fitness camp which was organised by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) at the Army School of Physical Traning, Kakul saying it has benefitted him and a number of other cricketers.

“We recently had the training camp in Kakul which was excellent for us,” he said. “We also have several extra fielding sessions nowadays and Pakistan’s fielding in the Asia Cup and World Twenty20 was also very good. Day by day we’re working hard on this area and gradually we are seeing improvements. I’m certainly seeing an improvement in my own fitness and fielding and I’m sure the same will be said for all Pakistani players in the future.”

Sharjeel was Pakistan’s stand-out performer with the bat during the dismal 2016 World Cup campaign. He scored 112 runs in four matches courtesy 18 boundaries and three maximums and he is very pleased that he could prove his mettle after being selected for the event at the last moment.

“I was very pleased with how I performed in India, particularly given it was such a big event and I managed to be Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in the four matches we played,” said Sharjeel. “Unfortunately we weren’t able to progress beyond the group stage but I gained a lot of confidence from the way I played in such a high pressure tournament at the highest level.

"I learnt a lot about Twenty20 cricket and it was also my first experience of playing against New Zealand and Australia which I really enjoyed. There is a lot that can be gained from playing against the best sides in the world so it was a fantastic learning curve for me.”

Here is the first century of the Pakistan Super League by Sharjeel Khan


Sharjeel Khan was interviewed by PakPassion