T20 World Cup 2022: Shadab Khan hits 2nd fastest fifty by Pakistan batter in history of mega event
Shadab #Shadab
Shadab Khan, on Thursday, November 3, hit the second-fastest half-century by a Pakistan batter in the history of T20 World Cups.
Shoaib Malik holds the record, having scored an 18-ball fifty against Kyle Coetzer’s Scotland in the previous edition of the World Cup at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
The right-hander got to his fifty off 20 balls against Temba Bavuma’s South Africa in the Super 12 match of the ongoing edition at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Shadab came to bat at No.7 after Pakistan elected to bat first in their must-win encounter against the Proteas. The Men in Green were struggling at 95 for the loss of five wickets in 13 overs.
Thereafter, Iftikhar Ahmed and Shadab put on 82 runs for the sixth wicket off 35 balls to bring Pakistan right back into the match.
Shadab scored 52 runs off 22 balls with three fours and four sixes. On the back of his late blitz, Babar Azam’s men scored 185 for the loss of nine wickets in 20 overs.
Shadab has batted in the middle-order for various teams, including Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
In 81 T20Is for Pakistan, Shadab has scored 456 runs at an average of 19 with a top score of 52. Prior to this game, his highest score was against New Zealand back in December 2020 at Eden Park in Auckland.
Shadab is also Pakistan’s second-highest wicket-taker in T20Is after the legendary Shahid Afridi, who retired from international cricket back in 2018.
Also Read | T20 World Cup: Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan flop again in Pakistan’s must-win match vs South Africa