Practice of planting Pakistan's flag into ground has united us, it reminds us we need to play our hearts out: Shadab Khan

All-rounder Shadab Khan has termed Pakistan’s practice of hoisting their national flag during the net sessions as one that unites the team. Shadab revealed that the ritual began under the reign of head coach Saqlain Mushtaq, who feels the flag to be a symbolic representation of ‘entire Pakistan being behind the national players’.

The said practice led to turmoil recently during the T20I leg of the Bangladesh-Pakistan series, when Pakistan hoisted the flag without permission during their practice session at the Sher-E-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, following which the hosts, Bangladesh, objected and voiced against such practice that seemingly sent out a political message.

“I have nothing to say about the players on the Pakistan team,” state minister Murad Hasan had said. “But we can’t accept them hoisting the Pakistan flag during practice sessions. Especially at a time when we’re celebrating the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, when we’re celebrating the golden jubilee of our independence. I believe they should be sent back along with their flag.”

Following the backlash, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) went on to apply for official permission from Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

National flag reminds us we need to play our hearts out: Shadab Khan

“The national flag reminds us that we need to play our hearts out for our country, the same country which got its independence due to countless sacrifices from our elders. This practice of planting the national flag into the ground has united us all,” Shadab told Geo News.

Shadab was also chuffed as the visiting team clinched the three-match T20I series 3-0, followed by a 2-0 victory in Tests. “We got a lot of momentum from the World Cup, which has united the team into a single unit. It is the reason why we were able to win all the matches in the T20 and Test series in Bangladesh,” he stated.

He also lauded the team’s inspirational leader Babar Azam, under whom Pakistan continues to rise. “People are ready to lay down their lives for a leader who is always there to support them,” he said.

Shadab will be next seen during the West Indies tour of Pakistan, comprising three ODIs and as many T20Is, scheduled between December 13 to 22 at the National Stadium in Karachi.