Dashing Pakistan spin allrounder Khushdil Shah shocked the media by showing surprise over his selection in the squad for the Champions Trophy, saying, “Even I don’t know how I got selected.”
The 30-year-old played a swashbuckling knock of 69 off just 49 balls as Pakistan were bowled out for 260 in reply to New Zealand’s imposing 3420-5 total. Pakistan went down by 60 runs.
Khushdil and Faheem Ashraf’s selection, based on their performance in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), was criticized in the media with former captain Rashid Latif calling it a “political selection.”
It was a surprise for me and even I did not know how I got selected.
He however deplored the crowds for shouting at him.
It hurts when the crowd calls names and lashes out at you. But I am now accustomed to it. I now enjoy it and ask them to shout more because now I can handle that very well.
People do not know how much a cricketer suffers, how much he works hard, and what sacrifices he gives to reach a stage where he gets selected for the national team. They must respect a player.
Khushdil said he never plays for himself.
I try my level best for my team and never care about my personal achievements. When I went to bat the asking rate was very high but I kept reminding myself that if I stay till the end we could pull the chase.
We have lost one match but we are still in the tournament. We can beat India if we play well so don’t rule out as yet.
The left-hander admitted India was playing good cricket and are a formidable team.
India has a good strong team but every team is beatable and India too can be defeated. If we bring our A games then we can beat India. The belief is there and if there is belief then we can make things happen.
Pakistan have beaten India in three of the five games in the previous Champions Trophy events. Their wins came in 2004 in the UK, 2009 in South Africa and that final at The Oval in London in 2017.
When India and Pakistan play the whole world watches the match. It is a match which is won by the teams that handle the pressure well so we are used to it..
