(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] Pakistan vice-captain and all-rounder Shadab Khan expressed profound disappointment at the team’s lackluster performance in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Pakistan’s exit from the tournament, failing to qualify for the semi-finals, was a bitter pill to swallow.
Shadab faced a slump in form throughout the tournament held in India. His bowling figures of only two wickets in five innings were reflective of a broader issue plaguing the entire Pakistani unit, which failed to create an impact, resulting in the team paying a heavy price.
Acknowledging his dismal performance, Shadab took responsibility, admitting, “I have let myself down, I didn’t live up to my potential as a bowler which has impacted the team’s performance. You always try to win a tournament, this could not happen. We are out of the semifinals. Coaches, players, support staff everyone is disappointed.”
Reflecting on the team’s collective shortcomings, Shadab highlighted the need for improvement in all three departments, stressing that Pakistan failed to adapt to the demands of modern-day cricket.
“Whenever a tournament starts, we have to improve in all three departments. As a team, we failed to adapt to modern-day cricket,” he added.
The 25-year-old also came to the defense of Pakistan skipper Babar Azam, emphasizing that the burden of criticism should not solely rest on the captain’s shoulders in times of defeat.
“This represents a cultural difference. When we emerge victorious, it is attributed solely to the captain’s triumph. But in times of defeat, the responsibility for the loss falls squarely on the captain’s shoulders. This should change,” Shadab concluded.