LAHORE: Islamabad United captain Shadab Khan was full of praise for Sameer Minhas after his all-round performance sealed win for Islamabad United against Quetta Gladiators.
Speaking at the post-match presentation ceremony, Shadab reflected on the unpredictable nature of performing as an all-rounder in the demanding environment of the Pakistan Super League. “When you play as an all-rounder, when you do one thing well, you feel it is your day,” he said. “But every time, you have to start from scratch. Today was good, following a process and hopefully it keeps going this way.”
The captain’s humility was evident as he acknowledged that even after a performance that many would consider career-defining, the work never stops. His words carried the weight of experience—a reminder that in professional cricket, past achievements offer no guarantees for future success. For Shadab, the focus remains firmly on consistency and adherence to the processes that have brought him success.
The evening belonged not only to Shadab but also to 19-year-old Sameer Minhas, who announced himself on the PSL stage with a breathtaking unbeaten 83 off 48 balls—his maiden T20 half-century. The young batter displayed remarkable composure for his age, anchoring the chase with a maturity that belied his limited experience at this level.
Shadab revealed that the franchise had long identified Minhas as a special talent and deliberately provided him with the platform to express himself. “We knew he was an exciting talent,” the captain explained. “We knew he needed a platform like this and some confidence. The maturity he is showing, hopefully there are many more to come from him.”
The partnership between the two was the cornerstone of United’s successful chase. Minhas played the anchor role with intelligence, finding boundaries at will while rotating strike effectively, allowing Shadab to assume the aggressor’s mantle. Together, they added an unbeaten 128 runs for the third wicket, transforming what could have been a nervy chase into a procession.
Shadab also offered insight into Islamabad United’s tactical approach during the run-chase, particularly their strategy for neutralizing Quetta Gladiators’ most potent bowling threats. The Gladiators’ attack featured leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed and mystery spinner Usman Tariq—both capable of causing significant damage on a pitch offering some assistance.
“On this ground, where the ball flies, we had a good cushion after the powerplay,” Shadab observed. “You have to pick and choose. They had Abrar and Usman as key bowlers. We saw them off and then we got set (and went after them).”
The execution of this plan was flawless. Minhas and Shadab respected the spinners during the middle overs, refusing to take unnecessary risks while maintaining the required run rate through ones and twos. Once they had seen off the dangerous duo, the pair unleashed a calculated assault on the remaining bowlers, ensuring the target was achieved with 10 deliveries to spare.
Shadab’s all-round performance—three wickets followed by an unbeaten 69—served as the perfect embodiment of his captaincy philosophy. He led from the front with the ball, triggering a Gladiators collapse that saw them slip from 50 for 0 to 93 for 5. With the bat, he arrived at the crease earlier than planned after Andries Gous’s cheap dismissal and immediately seized control of the innings.
