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Shadab Khan, the prominent all-rounder of the Pakistan cricket team, experienced an unforeseen incident when he crossed paths with a fan in Cardiff recently. This incident underscored the mounting pressure he’s under amid a challenging phase of form leading up to the imminent ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
The occurrence took place while Shadab was in Cardiff, where England and Pakistan were scheduled to compete in the third T20I of their ongoing four-match series. However, heavy rainfall on May 28 led to the match being washed out. This setback severely impacted their preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, set to be held in the West Indies and the USA.
Shadab Khan’s struggles with form were laid bare in an uncomfortable encounter with a fan.
Shadab Khan, renowned for his versatile skills both as a batsman and a bowler, has been grappling with a downturn in form lately. He remained wicketless in the last two T20Is against England and Ireland, with his economy rate soaring above 12 runs per over. This decline has sparked concerns among fans as the spotlight shifts towards the impending major tournament.
Adding to the pressure, a recent interaction with a fan left Shadab feeling uneasy and embarrassed. A Pakistani supporter, a woman, directly addressed his recent performances, expressing disappointment at his inability to contain runs in the ongoing T20I series against England. This encounter further highlighted the scrutiny he faces amidst his struggle for form ahead of the significant upcoming event.
In the video going viral on social media, a female fan can be seen asking Shadab: “Aap chakke kyun kha rahe hain? Form mein wapis aayein. Wicketein leni hai aapne (Why are you conceding sixes? Get your form back. You need to pick wickets).”
At present, England holds a 1-0 lead in the ongoing four-match T20I series against Pakistan. They clinched a 23-run victory in the second T20I at Edgbaston, following the abandonment of the first match in Leeds due to rain. Similarly, adverse weather conditions also affected the third game in Cardiff. The series will conclude with the final T20I scheduled for May 30 at The Oval.
Pakistan is set to kick off their T20 World Cup 2024 journey with a match against the USA.
This T20I series marks the final bilateral showdown for both England and Pakistan before they set their sights on the T20 World Cup 2024. Defending champions England are poised to commence their title defense against Scotland on June 4 at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.
In Group B of the T20 World Cup 2024, England is grouped alongside Australia, Oman, and Namibia. Matches are slated to take place across Barbados and Antigua. Conversely, Pakistan finds itself in Group A alongside India, Ireland, Canada, and the USA for the prestigious ICC tournament.
The Pakistani team will initiate their T20 World Cup 2024 campaign against the USA, the co-hosts, on June 6 in Texas. Subsequently, they are set to clash with their arch-rivals, India, in a highly anticipated fixture on June 9 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.
