Pakistan were not surprised by Abdullah Shafique’s technique standing up to scrutiny on Australian pitches. In Perth, he faced 36 overs before falling for a determined 42, and in Melbourne, he partnered with Shan Masood for a strong 90-run stand. When Shafique batted, the surface looked flatter, and it was telling that Australian chances were at a premium. His dismissal set off a disastrous passage of play for Pakistan, who lost 5 wickets for 46 runs in the hour that followed. Shafique admitted that the failure to maintain partnerships with the bat had hurt the team, and emphasized the importance of taking chances when facing a skilled bowler like Pat Cummins. Shafique’s fielding ability was heavily scrutinized with two missed catches in the series, but he remained optimistic about Pakistan’s current partnership. With Pakistan still 124 adrift, Shafique recognized the importance of not falling too far behind in the game and applauded the bowling unit’s performance in the morning session. Unfortunately, Shafique can no longer help them out in this innings.
