All-rounder Shadab Khan is optimistic about rediscovering his form and approaching the ICC World Cup 2023 with a fresh perspective. The tournament is scheduled to take place from October 5 to November 19.
During a press conference held before Pakistan's practice session in Hyderabad, Shadab Khan expressed his determination to give his best performance for Pakistan in the 2023 World Cup and move past the memories of the Asia Cup 2023.
Acknowledging his recent lackluster form, Shadab Khan admitted that it had been mentally draining as he had been playing continuously without delivering his best. However, he emphasized that he was leaving the past behind and the rest he received had rejuvenated him. He expressed the intention to perform at his peak during the World Cup with a new mindset.
Shadab Khan's performance in the Asia Cup 2023 had been disappointing, with only six wickets in five games at an average of 40.83. He also struggled with the bat, scoring just 13 runs in five outings.
Shadab Khan also voiced his support for teammate and opening batsman Fakhar Zaman, who faced similar struggles during the Asia Cup, scoring 65 runs in four innings at an average of 16.25. Shadab Khan praised Fakhar Zaman's status as a world-class player and expressed confidence in his ability to contribute to Pakistan's victories in the World Cup.
Highlighting the importance of fitness and bowling in winning the mega-event in India, Shadab Khan emphasized that World Cup 2023 would be a long tournament, and fitness would be crucial for all participating teams. He noted that the challenging conditions would require teams to focus on containing runs and taking wickets, making effective bowling a key factor in determining the tournament's outcome.
Pakistan's team is set to face Australia in their second warm-up match on October 3 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Their ICC World Cup 2023 campaign begins with a match against the Netherlands on October 6, also at the same venue.
Pakistan had previously lost their first warm-up match against New Zealand by five wickets. In that game, New Zealand's batsmen successfully chased down a total of 346 runs with 38 balls to spare.
The Pakistan squad for the ICC World Cup 2023 includes players like Babar Azam, Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, M Wasim Jnr, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Saud Shakeel, and Salman Ali Agha.
