Pakistan opener Abdullah Shafique has been unstoppable with the bat in the ongoing ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023.
The 23-year-old has scored 332 runs in six innings with the help of a century and three fifties. The right-hander today scored 68 off 69 balls against Bangladesh which featured nine fours and two sixes.
Meanwhile, two former captains, Mohammad Hafeez and Rashid Latif have lauded Abdullah and believe he will be the best batter for Pakistan and also in the world soon.
"I have never seen a stylish batter with such a beautiful technique like Abdullah Shafique in my career. He can make the records for Pakistan in the future," Hafeez said on a local sports channel.
"Abdullah Shafique is an outstanding batter and has every ability to be included among the best batters of the world in near future," Latif showered praise on the emerging batter.
It must be noted Pakistan openers Abdullah Shafique and Fakhar Zaman presented the perfect platform to the Men in Green to seal a win against Bangladesh as they stitched a 128-run opening stand while chasing a target of 205 runs.
Fakhar Zaman made his comeback after five matches and made sure that he made the most of it as the left-handed batter scored 81 runs off 74 deliveries with three fours and seven sixes — with one of them being a 99-metre maximum.
Abdullah Shafique combined forces with Zaman to build a 128-run opening partnership that put the Green Shirts in a dominating position.
Batting first, Bangladesh met with Shaheen Afridi's first-over magic as Tanzid Hasan was removed for a duck in the first over by the left-handed pacer.
Problems continued for the Tigers as Najmul Hossain Shanto (4) and the experienced Mushfiqur Rahim (5) were removed by Afridi and Haris Rauf respectively in the next five overs, leaving Bangladesh at 23-3 in 6 overs.
However, Littos Das and Mahmudullah formed a 79-run partnership, helping their side to post crucial runs against the deadly pace attack of Pakistan.
However, Das lost his wicket to Iftikhar Ahmed as he was getting closer to his fifty. Mahmudullah followed his counterpart soon enough as he was bowled out by Afridi for 56 runs.
Skipper Shakib Al Hasan contributed 43 runs while Mehidy Hasan Miraz scored 25 but their efforts at the lower order were not enough to take their side to a completive total as the entire Bangladeshi team were all out for just 204 runs.
Remember, Pakistan have to win their remaining two games in the World Cup 2023 to stay in contention for a final-four spot. They play New Zealand on October 4 and England on October 12.
- Abdullah Shafique