Abdullah Shafique opened up about his below-par performance in the recently concluded T20I series against Afghanistan in Sharjah.

Shafique became the first player to register four consecutive ducks in T20I cricket. Two of those ducks came during the aforementioned series.

“Afghanistan series wasn’t good for me, but ups and downs are part of a player’s career. We always try to make full use of the opportunities we get as a player. Sometimes such unwanted records can make you a better player as well. I will try to take this positively and put up a better show next time,” Shafique said while speaking to a local news channel.

The right-handed batsman, however, is rather pumped up about the upcoming home series comprising 5 ODIs against New Zealand.

The 23-year-old reinstated that the ODI series against New Zealand holds utmost importance since we are standing in a World Cup year, and each ODI match will help us better understand our preparation and strategy.

“We have prepared adequately for the ODI series against New Zealand. We are also following the ongoing T20I series in order to finalise our plans for the ODIs. The series against New Zealand will also aid our preparations for the World Cup. We have eight ODIs before the mega event which are very important for players in terms of performance,” he said.

Shafique also said that his focus in the larger run is to prove his capability in all three formats.

“I have never focused on playing just one format. I try to play each format in accordance with its requirements. I don’t want to prove myself in only one format of the game,” he concluded.

The right-hand batsman has played a total of 12 Tests, one ODI, and six T20Is for Pakistan since making his debut in 2020.