Pakistan suffered a seven-wicket against New Zealand in the third T20I here at Pindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
While talking to the media in Lahore ahead of the fourth T20I, Shadab stated that Pakistan batters should improve their strike rate to tackle stronger teams in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
“Strike rate is very important and we are trying [to improve it]. We have to play with a good strike rate against big teams,” said Shadab Khan.
“I believe that the team that scores more boundaries in a match has a better chance to win.”
Meanwhile, he also appreciated New Zealand for playing good cricket in their victory against Pakistan.
“There are no surprises in international cricket, nor there is any B or C team, we can say that a team has less experience, but that’s it,” the all-rounder said.
“New Zealand played excellent cricket in the third T20I. We cannot put the blame on anyone, we didn’t play well as a team.”
Notably, Shadab Khan took Pakistan to their eventual total of 178 in the third T20I after he came in to bat at sixth position. He put together a sensational partnership with Muhammad Irfan Khan Niazi, bolstering the team’s total.
The duo added 62 off 34 deliveries before Shadab perished in the penultimate over. He remained the top-scorer for Pakistan with a quickfire 41 off 20 deliveries which featured four boundaries and two sixes.
However, New Zealand batter Mark Chapman played a swashbuckling unbeaten knock of 87 off 42 deliveries to hand Pakistan a seven-wicket defeat.
Moreover, Shadab Khan expressed optimism about Pakistan’s chances in the T20 World Cup despite the recent loss, however, he stressed the importance of finding the right combination.
“I believe we have the team that can win the T20 World Cup and we should make the combination that could play with continuity. There are nine more matches [before the World Cup], we should find the right combination in those games,” he stated.
With the five-match series squared off at 1-1, Pakistan and New Zealand will square off in the fourth T20I in Lahore on April 25, followed by the fifth match on 27 April at the same venue.