Ahmed Shehzad: “We have to ensure we play the [India-Pakistan] game in the right spirit”

Ahmed Shehzad is one of the most exciting, young batsman in Pakistan cricket. Just 23, he has played in 58 One-Day Internationals, 28 T20 Internationals and eight Tests.

Ahmed Shehzad is one of the most exciting, young batsmen in Pakistan cricket. Just 23, he has played in 58 One-Day Internationals, 28 T20 Internationals and eight Tests. Criclife correspondent Gaurav Joshi caught up with Shehzad in Australia ahead of the World Cup cricket 2015.

Excerpts from an interview: 

Criclife (CL): People are touting you as the lynchpin of the Pakistan batting and the one to watch out for during the World Cup. Are you feeling the pressure of expectations?

Ahmed Shehzad (AS): Right from the first game of my career, every game has been pressure game for me. Sometimes you have to prove to yourself and do something for the country. This is my chance.

CL: How do you see the challenge of opening the batting in Australia?

AS: With two new balls, the ball will wobble around at the start. The bowlers will get some bounce in Australia, so it will be tough [for the batsman]. But I have to accept it as a challenge and do well for myself, my country and teammates. If I can give my team a good, start then – hopefully – it will be good platform for others.

CL: Is playing India first-up a good thing in such an intense match?

AS: Regardless of whether we play India in the opening match, semi-final, final or at any stage, an India–Pakistan match is always a huge game. Everyone will be glued to the TV. I’ve heard hotels [around the venue] have been booked four or five months ago. It will be a very crucial game and we need to pull up our socks and do our best in that game. Also we have to ensure we play the game in the right spirit. We want both these countries to play as much as possible — not just in the World Cup. I want normal series as well, because it is for the fans. I mean everyone loves watching India vs Pakistan games. We will be giving it our 100% and play that game in the best possible manner.

CL: There have been lots of comparisons of you with Virat Kohli? Do you speak to him often?

AS: Yes, but we never talk about comparisons. We do have chats after the games and we get along nicely.

CL: You suffered a fractured skull after being struck by a bouncer. Can you take us back to that incident?

AS: A couple of days after I got hit, I’ve heard about the [Phil Hughes] incident. It was tough for me and for my family to cope with it. But when you choose playing cricket, injuries are part of cricket. The game is my passion and I never thought anything else than playing cricket. Representing your country is a huge honour and will be so for rest of my career. It was important for me to move on.

(Gaurav Joshi is an Indian-born Australian who played with Michael Clarke in his junior days. He coaches and reports for a Sydney radio station. Over the years he has freelanced for Australia Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and is a regular on ABC cricket show Cow Corner. He is the author of the book “Teen Thunder Down Under” – The inside story of India’s 2012 U19 World Cup Triumph)