LAHORE: Islamanad United skipper Shadab Khan admitted that they fell short of their best in executing the plan.
After Islamabad United’s heartbreaking two-run loss to Hyderabad Kingsmen in the PSL 11 Eliminator 2, captain Shadab Khan spoke about the match, acknowledging both the shortcomings in his side’s performance and the brilliance of Hyderabad’s execution under pressure.
Shadab began by praising him, who defended six runs in the final over to seal Hyderabad’s victory. “At the end of the day, Allah wanted to honor Hunain Shah. He had been carrying injuries for a long time and was undergoing rehab, and Allah set a stage like this just to give him respect. The way he has bowled throughout the tournament is outstanding,” Shadab said.
He admitted that while Hunain had previously been part of Islamabad’s setup, he didn’t fit into their combination this season. “I am very happy for him because he is a great guy. I have dealt with many injuries myself, so I know how hard it is to come back. Allah gave him this honor,” he added.
Commenting on Islamabad’s performance, Shadab pointed to death bowling as a major concern. “We conceded 10 to 15 extra runs. Our death bowling needed improvement and that was visible today,” he said.
He also emphasized the importance of fielding, noting that Hyderabad saved crucial runs which ultimately made the difference. “Fielding was the main factor. They saved runs that ultimately won them the match,” Shadab admitted.
Shadab acknowledged his own struggles with the bat, scoring 22 off 24 balls. “I think I should have batted a bit better and taken momentum. Whenever we got some momentum, we lost a wicket. It was a bit of a mind game and we could have read the situation better,” he reflected.
He explained that Islamabad’s strategy was to take the game deep, hoping Hyderabad’s main bowlers would finish their overs early. However, consistent wickets prevented them from executing that plan.
Defending his batting position at number four, Shadab explained it was part of Islamabad’s pre-planned team combination.
