Pakistan's opening batsman Abdullah Shafique has acknowledged the challenges of facing New Zealand in their home conditions, stating that the upcoming ODI series will not be easy for Pakistan.
Speaking to the media before a training session at the LCC Ground on Wednesday, Shafique expressed his disappointment over the absence of young batter Saim Ayub from the squad.
"I am grateful to Allah for my return to the team. Playing in New Zealand is always difficult for Asian teams, but I will try to perform my best," Shafique said.
He also expressed his gratitude for Babar Azam’s appreciation, calling it an honor to receive praise from such a distinguished cricketer.
He emphasized that the Pakistan squad consists of experienced players, and having Babar Azam as a mentor boosts the confidence of the team.
He credited domestic cricket for helping him improve and expressed his desire to live up to the expectations set by Babar Azam.
Acknowledging the strength of the New Zealand side, Shafique noted, "New Zealand is not an easy opponent, but we will aim to compete well.
Criticism is part of cricket, and I believe in taking it positively while ignoring unnecessary distractions."
Shafique admitted that he had not been at his best in recent matches but emphasized that he had learned valuable lessons from his struggles.
"No player should be labeled as a red-ball or white-ball specialist. A cricketer must be capable of playing across all formats," he asserted.
He further stressed the significance of strike rate in limited-overs cricket, saying, "In white-ball cricket, maintaining a good strike rate is crucial."