Lahore Qalandars Star Batter Reveals Strategy Behind His New Batting Position

Following his Man of the Match performance in the crucial Eliminator 1 game against Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars’ Abdullah Shafique shed light on his new role in the batting order. The explosive batter, who often opens the innings for Pakistan, was replaced by Mohammad Naeem in the opening slot.

However, this didn’t affect Abdullah Shafique, who explained why he plays in the one-down position (No. 3) during the post-match press conference. He said,

I’m playing at 3 because that’s what the team requires. If the team needs it, then why not at 3? I should know this part of the game too. I already have an idea about opening, but coming in at different positions is a new phase and you learn how to play in that. I think it’ll help my game.

He emphasized that his main focus is contributing to the team’s success, saying, “For me, what matters is playing an important role for the team’s win. I’ve talked to some players about modern-day cricket—it’s not just about training, it’s about mindset. If you have a positive mindset and intent, obviously you’ll look to score runs.”

Shafique also defended captain Shaheen Afridi, who had faced criticism earlier in the tournament for a bold statement after a group stage loss to Karachi. “Everyone saw that statement. People were saying, ‘What is this?’ Shaheen is our leader and has been leading the side for four years. It shows how confident he was. And by winning, we proved that we’re good enough to beat any team,” Shafique said.

Lahore Qalandars kept their title hopes alive with a convincing six-wicket victory over arch-rivals Karachi Kings, chasing down 191 with eight balls to spare. Fakhar Zaman set the tone with a quickfire 47, while Shafique anchored the chase with a flurry of boundaries and sixes.

With this win, Lahore Qalandars move on to face Islamabad United in Eliminator 2, with a spot in the PSL X final against Quetta Gladiators on the line. Karachi Kings, meanwhile, bow out of the tournament after a campaign that promised much but ended in disappointment at the knockout stage.

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