ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, CMC – Former convenor of selectors Iqbal Qasim believes it was a mistake to rush debutant teenaged leg-spinner Shadab Khan into the second Test against West Indies in Barbados last week.
The 18-year-old proved ineffective on a pitch tailor-made for spin, managing a single wicket from 40 overs as Pakistan collapsed to a 106-run defeat on the final day at Kensington Oval.
“[Misbah-ul-Haq] didn’t do any favour to youngster Shadab by including him straight into the Test squad,” said Iqbal, who took 171 wickets in 50 Tests between 1976 and 1988.
“It also put extra pressure on Yasir Shah, but thanks to Almighty, Yasir performed exceptionally and didn’t take the pressure, otherwise, if there was any other bowler, he would have also suffered.”
Shadab was a revelation in the Twenty20 series, adjudged Man-of-the-Series after snaring 10 wickets to fire Pakistan to a 3-1 victory.
After taking five wickets in the three-match one-day series, he was fast-tracked into the Test side but even on a track that favoured him, he failed to rattle the Windies batsmen at the Oval.
Iqbal said it was important to properly nurture Shadab and keeping him out of the longest format for the moment was perhaps best for the player.
“Shadab has just started his international career and it was too early to induct him in the longer version of the game,” he argued.
“Let Shadab [be] with the team, provide him exposure and let him play T20 and ODIs for the time being, as it will help him as well as the team. He is future of Pakistan cricket and he is bound to excel but only with proper training and exposure, which will turn him into the best in the business.”
Both teams are currently in Dominica preparing for the decisive third Test starting at Windsor Park tomorrow, with Pakistan seeking a victory to mark their first-ever Test series success in the Caribbean.
And Iqbal said the visitors needed a big effort from the bowling department – especially seamer Mohammad Amir – if they were to pull off victory.
“Coach (Mickey Arthur) and captain (Misbah-ul-Haq) must keep on trusting Yasir for longer version, as he is the best which he proved in the second Test,” he explained.
“Aamir is showing some glimpses of his past form and may return to full form with a passage of time. He needs to deliver quickly as he was hurriedly rushed into the national team and now he is struggling as a lot of pressure was put on him.”
