‘I don’t think we can reveal it on live TV’: Shadab Khan on chat with Haris Rauf

Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf (Photo AFP) Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan had a lot to say about his conversation with Haris Rauf during their match-winning partnership against England. After leading Pakistan to a thrilling one-wicket victory in Lahore on Sunday, Shadab revealed that the two talked more about things other than cricket.“He explained things to me more than I explained to him. He said things along the way that I don’t think we could reveal on live TV. I think we had a lot of fun times and really enjoyed it. We talked more about things other than cricket,” Shadab said after being named Man of the Match.Their conversation seemed to work wonders as Pakistan made a remarkable comeback. Chasing 242, the hosts were struggling at 154-9 before Shadab and Rauf combined to take the team home.

Shadab, Rauf, screenplay partnership

Shadab remained unbeaten on 113 while Rauf scored seven and not out off 19 balls. The pair added 89 runs for the last wicket, the highest partnership for the last wicket in a successful run in ODIs.Pakistan needed a strong finish after England’s bowlers put them on the back foot. Shadab hit 13 fours and five sixes to lead the fight while Rauf played a key supporting role.Shadab was lbw with Pakistan needing 21 runs to win. However, he reviewed the decision and survived after replays showed an inside edge.Reflecting on the partnership, Shadab said Rauf deserves more credit for helping Pakistan cross the finish line.“Obviously you only enjoy an innings when the team wins. So I’m very happy that I played that innings and we won the game. I think Haris deserves more credit than me because obviously tailenders in that position always want to hit sixes. The way I led him or he led me, we were able to put together a good partnership.”

Shadab reveals what kept him at 154-9

Pakistan looked set for defeat when Shadab found himself with the last man at the crease. However, the all-rounder said he still believes he can get the job done.“Obviously I think you just go with the flow. When I came back in the last series, there was an innings against Australia where I went all the way but I couldn’t win the game. So the idea was to keep believing. The conditions were a bit different today with the dew coming in. I also felt their bowling was a bit under pressure, given how it could have gone if we had put them under pressure in the previous game. It suited my game.”

Afridi’s four wickets put England under pressure

Earlier, England were bowled out for 241 in 46.4 overs after Ben Duckett scored a composed 105. Shaheen Shah Afridi led Pakistan’s bowling attack with four wickets in 46 runs.Afridi struck in the first to dismiss Tom Banton and removed Joe Root in the third. Haris Rauf then sent Jordan Cox back as England slipped to 52-4.Duckett and Sam Curran rebuilt the innings with a 93-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Curran scored 42 before becoming Afridi’s third victim. Jamie Overton helped England pass 200 while Gus Atkinson remained unbeaten on 36.Pakistan’s chase also got off to a bad start with Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam falling for 10 each. Saad Baig scored a quick 32 off 22 balls while Salman Ali Agha made 26 but Pakistan continued to lose wickets.Shadab reached the crease in the 24th over with Pakistan at 103-6. His unbeaten century eventually turned the match around and secured the hosts a place in the final of the tri-series.The defeat was England’s third straight loss in the tri-series. Earlier, they suffered a heavy blow as Sri Lanka chased down 430 with one ball remaining, completing the second highest run total in ODI history.