Whatmore hails Shafiq as future of Pakistan cricket – Cricket News Update
Pakistan team head coach http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Asad-Shafiq-c46208, terming him the “future” of the team.
“Shafiq is a very good player and is the future of Pakistan. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Umar-Akmal-c94595 are also young. So we have some wonderful players,” Whatmore said, expressing confidence in the team’s potential to excel in the years to come.
Shafiq, a 26-year-old right-hander, played domestic cricket for Karachi before being picked for the Asia Cup 2010 on the strength of his performances, going on to make his debut during an ODI against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747 in June 2010 at Dambulla. Since then he has
gone on to play a total of 16 Tests (with 894 runs to his credit at an average of 42.57), 34 ODIs (903 runs at an average of 30.10), and 10 T20Is (192 runs) for the national side.
Currently involved in Pakistan’s limited-overs series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shafiq-c89281 made a valiant effort by scoring a half-century (56) during the first ODI of the 3-match series, at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on August 28.
He was joined at the crease by youngster Umar Akmal (52) for a 61-run stand – however, their efforts eventually went in vain as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mitchell-c76390 Starc’s brutal assault (10-2-42-5), and half-centuries by both
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/George-Bailey-c1480 (57*).
However, in addition to praising the feats of the youngsters, Whatmore (who coached a young and inexperienced Sri Lankan side to World Cup victory in 1996) also stressed on the need for improvement, pointing out that the batsmen needed to learn to adapt
to different circumstances.
“Players must be able to read the game properly and, if they can do that, they will be in a much better position to respond with appropriate tactics,” he stated.
Following his valiant performance in Sharjah, Shafiq crumbled after a mere 9-run contribution during the second ODI at the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/James-Pattinson-c1653. However, aided by a brilliant, match-winning innings by
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Nasir-Jamshed-c78752 (97), Pakistan were able to claim a 7-wicket win and level the series.
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