Pakistan has never been deprived of talent for the game of cricket. No matter the highlighting of cricket has been restricted to big cities due to financial and political terms but the passion towards this game is found in every village of Pakistan, perhaps even more. The motive of encouraging PCB to organize maximum tournaments separately for Under13, 16, 19, 23 for each district and more is to groom maximum talent of this country utilizing them in the best possible way.

Similarly taking back few years, Pakistan itself was following leagues all around the world, discussing, analyzing them but was unable to produce its own but nevertheless credit must be given to Najam Sethi (Chairman PSL) for defining dream of Pakistan Super League into practical terminology. Apart from all financial benefits, the motive of carving talent into its groomed form was brought up with the name of Mohammad Asghar and Mohammad Nawaz in first edition while in second edition considering even more excited player was right-arm-leg spinner Shadab Khan of Islamabad United.

Pakistan is still searching for an all-rounder for all formats who can be good with the bat and ball at the same time. As modern cricket demands fitness and fielding flexibility, Shadab Khan has spark of having all the above mentioned qualities making him one of great talent for Pakistan in coming years.

Shadab Khan is a Mianwali born young bowling sensation who is proved himself to be good with the bat as he is with the ball. As every child who dreams to become a cricketer, Shadab Khan started his cricket learning process through club cricket of Rawalpindi. He joined Bajwa Cricket Club in his early days of cricket which is renowned club of Rawalpindi who produced Mohammad Amir aswell. Later Shadab joined Saddiq-e-Akbar Cricket Club which played vital role in his initial club career and this was the same club from where Mohammad Nawaz played club cricket too. Raja Sajjad the coach of Saddiq-e-Akbar CC reckoned Shadab to have a spark in his early days. He used to be regular with his practice and never missed a chance to perform in the match.

Shadab was first highlighted in domestic circuit of Pakistan Cricket when he was selected in under-19 team of district Attock. Though he was selected as a genuine bowler in the first match but was not given a chance to bowl. Soon Shadab was picked into Rawalpindi district team from where he started performing with the ball in three-day and two-day Under 19 games. Moreover being selected as a bowler, his batting was also becoming his weapon to impress selectors after scoring 58 in a district –two-day-match against Jhelum at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. As fortune favors the brave, with improved performances one after another, Shadab got picked into Rawalpindi Region U-19 from where he played every match for his region in three-day inter regional tournament in 2014. On numerous moments, Rawalpindi regional team collapsed in number of matches but Shadab’s efforts with the bat were appreciated which resulted in his promotion him up the order in later matches and in the same match he scored 80 runs on one down position against Karachi Dophins. Soon he took 4/77 with the ball which lead his career pathway towards Pakistan Under-19.

Later in 2015, Pakistan Under-19 toured Srilanka for three-day matches where Shadab Khan took 10 wickets in only two matches bringing him more into spotlight of PCB. In 2016, Karachi Electric gave a contract to Shadab Khan to play Patron’s Trophy Grade-II 2016 and it went fruitful for the department as the young gun took figures of 5/45 and 5/36 in his very first match against Pakistan Navy. Overall Shadab Khan took 22 wickets in 5 matches in Grade-II tournament with a handy average with the bat too.

Shadab Khan only played 4 First Class matches before he got a ticket from Islamabad United for PSL. He toured England to play against SriLanka A, two matches against Zimbabwe-A and one from Rawalpindi Region earlier in Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2016/17 with an average of 47 with the bat and 26 with the ball.

Pakistan Super League was set on fire by young Shadab Khan which lead him straight into national team becoming 73rd T20i, 211th ODI and 227th Test cap for Pakistan. Moreover cricket gurus have reckoned the googly of Shadab unrecognized as he does it from back of hand.

Superb Shadab bowled 34 dotball in his first two T20i matches taking 8 wickets. There is no question on his inclusion into limited over’s cricket but few critics are doubtful for his Test debut claiming PCB cashing his fortune and confidence more than his long version experience and first-class performance but as in support for talent, we know Shadab Khan is capable of achieving heights of success for Pakistan in years ahead and as a cricket fanatics we should support this gem for the rest of his career sending him best wishes. Best of Luck Sensational Shadab!

Arfa Feroz Zake is the Correspondent of Clubinfo. Follow him on-

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