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'Shadab's Been...,' Mark Butcher Suggests Pakistan To Drop Vice Captain In World Cup 2023

image-lnbnntjjShadab Khan has been out of form in recent past (AP Photo)

The former English batsman Mark Butcher has taken cognisance of Pakistan vice-captain Shadab Khan’s poor run in white-ball cricket and has a recommendation for the Men In Green prior to the commencement of the marquee event. The 51-year-old opines that Usama Mir should replace Shadab in the lineup and partner with Mohammad Nawaz to bolster Pakistan's spin attack in the upcoming ODI World Cup.

Usama's shot to fame when he made his ODI debut earlier this year against New Zealand. He showed a tremendous deal of promise in that series due to which he was subsequently included in the Asia Cup squad. However, preference was given to Shadab and as a result, Usama was unable to feature in any Asia Cup matches.

Meanwhile, Butcher has recommended Pakistan to not repeat the same mistake again. Furthermore, he advises the team management to entrust Usama Mir as he has been in sensational touch throughout the entirety of the year. Moreover, he also feels that Shadab has lost his venom and doesn’t bowl with the same amount of intensity when he was at his absolute best.

“Usama Mir is the guy for them. Watching him during the PSL, and then he had a really good Hundred for the Manchester Originals with the bat and with the ball. Shadab’s been bowling kind of hit-me’s (deliveries) for a long, long time now. Really just lost all of his bite and it just seems to go out of the park every time he lets it go.”

Butcher feels Pakistan will need to make a right call ahead of their opening World Cup fixture. He believes that the spin bowling combination of Nawaz and Mir can pose a very formidable challenge.

“I think they might have to be a little smart here. I’d play Mohammad Nawaz here with Usama Mir, if they are going to go with double spin.”

Ahead of their World Cup opener, Pakistan played their last warm-up fixture against Australia where Mir picked up two wickets, giving away 31 runs in five overs while Shadab picked up one wicket giving away 69 runs in 10 overs.