'Not yet', says Shadab Khan when compared to Steve Smith

Team Pakistan have found a very able cricketer in young Shadab Khan. The teenager who made his international debut last season has been in the thick of action for his side across the three formats. His primary role in the Pakistani side is of a leg spinner. However, he has been contributing very well with the bat as well. In the ongoing Test match against England at Headingley, the chips were down for the visiting side.

They were struggling at 78/7 at one stage in the game. They stared directly at a low score. But young Shadab Khan had other plans. He played a very crucial defiant knock of 56 runs to help his side post a decent score in their first innings. Pakistan posted 174 in their first innings. While the score is no where close to a winning first innings total in a Test match, at least it has managed to keep the visitors interested in the game.

On a batting roll

It is worth noting that this fifty from Shadab Khan is not a one match wonder. He had hit a brilliant 52 in the first Test at Lord’s as well. Also, in the game against Ireland, he had scored 55 with the bat. With such consistency, the media recently compared him with Australian batsman Steve Smith, who had also started as a leggie before becoming the top ranked Test batsman.

A very humble Shadab remarked that it is too early to make such comparisons. He is content to be a bowling all-rounder at the moment. He also noted that without a doubt Steve Smith remains to be his favorite cricketer.

“He’s (Smith) my favourite, but not yet. I didn’t go as a batsman, the focus is on being a bowling all-rounder, just play as a bowling all-rounder. There was seam and swing when I was batting. I was only trying to do what I know,” Shadab Khan quoted in the post match conference.

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