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Cricket Players'I want to be the player of Asia Cup and lift trophy': Pakistan star roars ahead of India match
Ahead of Asia Cup 2022, Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan is eyeing for the Player of the Tournament trophy.
Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan is easily one of the biggest match-winners in their side. In the absence of Shaheen Shah Afridi, he would probably rank right after captain Babar Azam in T20Is. He is a genuine wickettaker with the bowl, can field anywhere, pretty much like India's Ravindra Jadeja and is one of the most improved finishers in the shortest of the game. Ahead of Asia Cup 2022, No wonder, Shadab Khan is eyeing for the Player of the Tournament trophy.
"Personally, I want to be the player of the Asia Cup. I know it is easier said than done, but where there is a will, there is a way. I remain committed to delivering my best possible efforts and I am confident I will be rewarded with successes and achievements. It will be great if I can translate my dreams of lifting the player of the tournament trophy, but the much bigger and ultimate objective is to win the glittering trophy for Pakistan, rest is secondary," Shadab said as quoted by PCB.
He was in terrific form in the the last edition of the Pakistan Super League. And even after returning from an injury, he didn't look rusty in the home series against West Indies, producing match-winning performance in the final match.
"The dressing room is calm and relaxed, but we are not complacent. We are trying to keep things simple and straight, and our focus is one game at a time," the hard-hitting all-rounder who is a more than handy leg-spinner, said.
When asked about the void injured Shaheen Afridi's absence will leave in the Pakistan unit, Shadab said he has enough confidence in Haris Rauf and Co. to do the job. "Shaheen Shah Afridi’s absence is a blow as he is our main strike bowler. But the beauty of cricket is that it’s not an individual but a team game. So we have many match-winning bowlers in our family and I have confidence in Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Shahnawaz Dahani and others, who will surely step-up."
Pakistan had beaten India at the same venue the last time these two teams met in a T20 World Cup match in 2021. Shadab, however, played down the rivalry and said they are not 'overthinking.'
Like any competition, Sunday’s match is important as it will set the tone for the remaining matches. But we are not overthinking and trying to divert our minds in other things as we did last year.
