Shadab Khan talks about his debut man-of-the match performance

18-year-old leggie says PSL provided him the platform to shine

Pakistan cricket is known for producing stars who win praise and hearts through their performances as soon as they surface on the international scene and leg-spinner Shadab Khan has made it into that list with two man-of-the-match awards in as many matches.

A three-for in his debut T20I match against West Indies and now a four-for in the very next match, has put Shadab on cloud nine. The fledgling 18-year-old’s ambitions for the future are quite clear — help Pakistan win, whenever and wherever possible.

“I try to deliver performances which are good for the team. On this tour [and for the future] my only goal is to help Pakistan win,” said Shadab in a video interview on the Pakistan Cricket Board’s Facebook page.

First thoughts while bowling

Shadab came on to bowl the eighth over for Pakistan in the first T20I. They say the pressure of an international match, while wearing your country’s jersey, is immense but it only took the youngster one ball to set a target for himself; he wanted to dismiss a batsman.

“In the start, the first time I came to bowl, I was a little nervous,” said Shadab. “I bowled the first ball without any thoughts in my mind, I just bowled it. However, with the second delivery, I wanted to go for a wicket and it happened.”

Favourite wicket on debut

Shadab dismissed Chadwick Walton LBW with a googly, Lendll Simmons dragged his leg-break delivery onto his stumps and Sunil Narine was caught at long-on in the first T20I trying to clear the fielder but which one was his favourite?

“Narine’s wicket was my favourite,” said Shadab. “He was playing the spinners well in PSL2 and had hit me for two sixes as well. So he was playing me better than anyone so I wanted to get him out.”

Inspiration?

Shadab the leggie, equipped with a befuddling googly and impressive control, says he never saw any videos of anyone to get inspiration from. However, he thanks Pakistan leg-spin legend Mushtaq Ahmed for his help in the academy.



“I didn’t really have an inspiration in mind,” he said. “Mushtaq bhai can be one but I don’t watch too many videos of anyone. When I came into the academy, Mushtaq bhai used to give me small tips but they were quite helpful; I benefited a lot from them.”

When asked how he learnt to bowl a googly that has proven incredibly hard to pick, Shadab said: “Leg-spin is also one of my potent weapons while bowling, it is not only the googly. So I am trying to improve both. I am still learning and I’ll improve.”

PSL was important

The Pakistan Super League (PSL), only after its second edition, has started reaping fruits for the national team and Shadab thinks he owes his debut to the tournament.

“The PSL was very important,” said Shadab. “I have toured with Pakistan A and performed well in that too but then, when I was selected as a supplementary player for Islamabad United, I thought I would not play, because they are more like reserve players. However, Misbah [ul Haq] bhai supported me.”

No extra plan for Shadab: Windies coach

While the cricket world is in awe of the young leggie, West Indies coach Stuart Law thinks his side gifted Shadab wickets.

“We got plans for everyone so he’s not the only one we’re talking about,” he said. “We’re talking about everyone else so we just need to come out with better execution in the middle — that’s what it boils down to. He bowled really well but we’ve gifted him a few wickets as well.”

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