Babar takes my advice on the lineup as we like to form the team with a mutual understanding: Shadab Khan

Babar Azam’s deputy in the Pakistan limited-overs team, Shadab Khan has revealed how the skipper makes the selection of the playing XI. Shadab said that Babar likes to give players a prolonged run in the national side and does not believe in changing the team too much or too frequently.

Under Babar Azam’s captaincy, Pakistan has scripted some brilliant victories in the recent past. The team recently had a successful assignment against South Africa and Zimbabwe, where the visitors went on to win all the series. They defeated South Africa in the three-match ODI series 2-1, and followed that with a 3-1 win in the four-match T20I series.

Against Zimbabwe, the Men in Green clinched the three-match T20I series 2-1, losing in the second T20I in what was their first T20I loss against Zimbabwe. However, Pakistan faced no trouble in the two-match Test series, where they comfortably clean-swept the hosts by consecutive innings victories.

Revealing the policy of selection of the players, Shadab Khan told Cricket Pakistan in a chat that Azam takes his advice and consults him before selecting the team as they both decide the playing XI mutually.

He tries to play one team for as long as possible: Shadab Khan

“Babar takes my advice on the lineup as we like to form the team with a mutual understanding. Although, the final decision is his as he is the one who has to lead the team on the field,” he said.

“Sometimes it happens that the players aren’t able to perform in accordance with expectations but you need to stick with them in order to form a good team. Which is why Babar gives confidence to players rather than chopping and changing the side regularly. He tries to play one team for as long as possible.”

Shadab, who has spent plenty of time away from the game due to injuries in the recent past, said that the last year has been difficult for him.

“If was a difficult year for me as I was injured most of the time. It’s difficult to perform straightway when you comeback in the side after an injury. I’m fully fit now and also trained for two or three session but after that we were quarantined. After our quarantine ends, I will utilise the time available to get ready for matches,” he said.

“This is still some time left before the World Cup, which is why I’m only focusing on the PSL at the moment. I will try to perform well and help my team win the PSL, this is the only thing I’m thinking about right now,” he concluded.