Mike Hesson explains role change for Shadab Khan amid ODI form concerns

LAHORE: Pakistan’s white-ball head coach Mike Hesson has defended the decision to continue with Shadab Khan as a batting all-rounder, despite ongoing scrutiny over his form with the ball following the side’s series-defining defeat to Australia in the second ODI at Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday.

Shadab had not featured in ODI cricket since the 2023 World Cup prior to the opening match of the ongoing three-match series against Australia, and his selection had already sparked debate among analysts and fans.

With the next World Cup still 16 months away, the Pakistan think-tank has opted to test and expand its player pool.

The management handed out six debuts during the recent Bangladesh series, while Arafat Minhas became the latest debutant in the format during the first ODI in Rawalpindi, where he marked his arrival with a record five-wicket haul.

Shadab’s return to the ODI side is his first since the 2023 World Cup, where he managed just two wickets in six matches at an average of 118.5. His limited recent exposure to 50-over cricket further raised questions, with his last List A appearance coming in October 2024 in the President’s Cup One-Day tournament.

The presence of specialist spinners Sufiyan Muqeem and Abrar Ahmed in the squad intensified debate over Shadab’s role, particularly given his struggles with the ball.

Those concerns have persisted in the ongoing series. Shadab has been the most expensive bowler across the first two ODIs, conceding 110 runs at an economy rate of 6.47 without taking a wicket, despite conditions offering assistance to spin.

He had also gone wicketless in his three matches prior to this series, with his last multi-wicket haul coming in the 2023 Asia Cup opener in Multan, where he returned figures of 4 for 27 against Nepal.

However, Pakistan’s management believes Shadab’s value now lies more heavily in his batting. The all-rounder produced a resilient 71 off 104 balls in the second ODI while chasing 232, briefly keeping Pakistan in contention before Australia closed out a 41-run victory, bowling the hosts out for 190.

It was his first half-century since June 2022 against West Indies in Multan, but the team management insists this shift has been planned for some time.

“Shadab, I guess, has made a transition throughout his career, starting as more of a bowler who batted, to a batting all-rounder. Because of that, he bats at six or seven depending on the situation,” said Hesson.

His declining returns with the ball have now pushed him down the bowling pecking order.

“He is our fifth bowler, along with Salman Ali Agha or Maaz Sadaqat in this line-up,” Hesson added.

Following the match, Hesson was also seen in discussion with the Gaddafi Stadium head curator regarding pitch conditions.

He had earlier stated on 'X' that Pakistan were preparing spin-friendly surfaces as part of long-term planning ahead of the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, expecting varied conditions across venues.

Asked whether instructions for the final ODI would remain the same, Hesson maintained that conditions, rather than directives, would dictate proceedings.

“There is not a huge amount of grass out there to play with, so it is going to be a spin surface and not quick wickets,” he said.

“It is incredibly hot, so that is the type of surface we are going to get at this time of year. Last year we played South Africa on similar ones, and Sri Lanka on pitches that had pace and bounce. We are fortunate enough to produce lots of different pitches. Today, Australia got too many runs with the bat, and we started poorly with the ball. So certainly, it is not the pitch’s fault.”