Abdullah Shafique has etched his name in cricket history, joining the ranks of cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting.
Pakistan’s talented opener Abdullah Shafique has etched his name into cricket’s record books, albeit in an unfortunate manner. In the recently concluded ODI series against South Africa, Shafique became the first-ever opener in cricket history to record ducks in every match of a single ODI series.
Historic Record in Johannesburg
The series’ third and final match in Johannesburg witnessed Shafique’s streak reach its climax. Facing South Africa’s pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada, Shafique was dismissed on just the second ball of the opening over. This marked his third consecutive duck of the series—a feat that places him alongside legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting, who also recorded three consecutive ducks in ODI cricket. Tendulkar set this record in 1994, while Ponting matched it in 2000.
A Series to Forget
Shafique’s struggles weren’t limited to the final game. In the first ODI, he was clean-bowled by Marco Jansen after just five deliveries. The second ODI saw a similar story, with Jansen dismissing him for another duck after two deliveries. Despite Pakistan securing the series, Shafique’s individual performance became a point of discussion among fans and analysts.
Comparisons with Other Players
Abdullah Shafique now joins a list of Pakistani players who have faced similar streaks in ODI history, including Salman Butt, Shoaib Mohammad, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Wasim, and Shadab Kabir. While these streaks are rare, Shafique’s position as an opener makes his record even more significant.
Globally, the record for the most consecutive ducks in ODIs is five, held by players like England’s Craig White, West Indies’ Gus Logie, Zimbabwe’s Henry Olonga, and Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga and Pramodya Wickramasinghe. Should Shafique’s dry spell continue, he risks joining this unenviable list.
Future Challenges
While Shafique’s current form is a concern, his potential as a batter remains undeniable. With the upcoming series on the horizon, fans and experts will be eager to see how he bounces back from this setback.
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