New Delhi: Pakistan’s newest cricket prodigy Shahzaib Khan stunned fans with his 159-run knock against India in the ACC Under 19 Asia Cup. Now Pakistanis can’t stop raving about him. They are calling him the “rising star of Pakistan’s future”, a young prodigy, and the next “chase master”.
The opener stole the show with 10 sixes and five fours off 147 balls to steer Pakistan to 281/7. His innings is now the highest score ever made against India U-19 in a Youth ODI, surpassing the previous record of 134 set by Sami Aslam back in 2012. It is also the second-highest score by a Pakistani in Youth ODIs, just behind the legendary Shahid Afridi’s 169.
In a panel discussion with PTV Sports, former cricketer Mohammad Hafeez said that Shahzaib has the ability to express despite not being familiar with technicalities.
“It shows his mental state and at this age, to be able to take that pressure and deliver is good to witness for Pakistan,” he said.
“Shahzaib Khan is the runaway train of Pakistan’s future,” one fan tweeted, while another hailed him as the “rising star of Pakistan’s future”.
Some Pakistani fans used the Under-19 win as an opportunity to take a dig at India’s refusal to come to Pakistan for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. “Pakistani boys solved the security issue of the Indian team even before the start of the Champions Trophy,” one person wrote on X.
In an interview to the Pakistan cricket Board, Shahzaib said that seam movements had hindered his runs at first but he is happy to have played such an innings, especially against India.
Who is Shahzaib Khan?
Shahzaib is from Mansehra in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and has been playing since he was a kid, inspired by watching his brother’s matches. In an interview with the PCB, he said that he’s a huge fan of former Pakistan opener Saeed Anwar and Babar Azam. He first played his U-13 in 2018.
After his whirlwind century against India, Shahzaib went on to score another ton (132 runs off 136 balls) against the UAE U-19 in the very next match, smashing 11 fours and six sixes.
“Habit of scoring centuries at a young age lays the foundation for greatness! Shahzaib Khan shines again with back-to-back centuries, proving he’s a star in the making”, former Pakistani cricketer Mansoor Rana wrote on X.
Also read: ‘PCB is sold out’—Pakistanis convinced that they won’t get to host Champions Trophy
‘Next Kohli for Pakistan’
Some cricket fans now want Shahzaib to be a part of the Pakistan national team and think that he can be the next Sachin Tendulkar or Virat Kohli for Pakistan.
“Please bring Shahzaib Khan to the @TheRealPCB national team. He will prove to be Tendulkar and Kohli and Pakistan,” one X user suggested.
But not everyone is sold on Pakistan’s youth cricket just yet. Some sceptics have pointed out that while Pakistan’s bowling quality looks strong, their batting still has a lot of room for improvement. “Shahzaib Khan will clearly make it to a higher level. But for others, the ceiling might just be domestic cricket,” one X user wrote.
(Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)