SA vs PAK 2024: Abdullah Shafique ends series with three consecutive ducks, enters list of unwanted record

Everything for top-order batter from Pakistan, Abdullah Shafique, seems to go against him as he bagged a third consecutive ODI duck recently. He was dismissed on the very second delivery of the third and final ODI of the ongoing series against South Africa.

Angling in on top of off-stump, all Shafique could do was manage a splice while polling at the delivery from Kagiso Rabada. Falling across first slip, Aiden Markram hung onto the opportunity to pile further misery on Shafique. Notably, the most-recent dismissal saw Shafique failing to get off the mark for the third consecutive time this series.

Although Pakistan won the first two games, it was a horror show from Shafique as Marco Jansen dismissed him on both occasions. With this, he became only the second batter to be dismissed on ducks in each match of a three-game ODI series, joining Suryakumar Yadav. The India batter had copped a tough time against Australia at home during the three-match series in early 2023.

Before the flurry of ducks which Shafique has undergone in the recent past, he had only registered one duck in his ODI career. His current run-tally stands at 612 runs in 21 innings, with an average of 32.21. It is yet to be determined how the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the team management evaluate the opener setbacks. His recent outings with the bat would come as certain disappointments considering the decent nick he was in ahead of the series in the series against Zimbabwe.

With the Champions Trophy round the corner in a couple of months, it would be a critical decision for the PCB in relation to Shafique. This issue becomes even more pressing due to his opening partner, Saim Ayub, being in the form of his life at present. In the two completed games against the Proteas so far, the dashing left-handed batter shone with the willow in the first one with a comprehensive ton.

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Although he could secure only 25 in the consequent fixture, he seems comfortable in the ongoing final game of the series in Johannesburg. At the time of writing, Pakistan are 28/1 at the end of seven overs, with the game being reduced to a 47-overs-a-side contest after an extended rain interruption.