Abdullah Shafique reflects on overcoming struggles after century in Multan Test

Pakistan batter Abdullah Shafique, visibly emotional after scoring a century on the first day of the opening Test against England in Multan, expressed his relief at overcoming the "challenges of failure."

The ton marks his second Test century in two years, following a difficult period in his career. Shafique had been close to becoming the fastest cricketer to reach 1,000 Test runs but endured a slump, which he decisively ended with his 102-run innings off 184 balls, including 10 fours and two sixes, against a formidable English bowling attack in the intense heat.

In a crucial 253-run partnership with captain Shan Masood, who also scored a brilliant century, Shafique stepped up when Pakistan needed him the most. His performance provided stability on a challenging pitch, setting the tone for the series.

"A sportsman has to face challenges and go through failure," Shafique told ESPN Cricinfo. "I'm thankful to the team management and the captain for trusting me and giving me a fair run. You face a lot of mental challenges and doubts, but you have to overcome it all and perform."

Shafique's gratitude toward Masood stems from the captain's philosophy of fostering a secure environment for his players. Masood has been vocal about the importance of backing his team members through difficult patches, referencing his own time out of the side.

"When I was out of the team for two years, I averaged over 60 in List A cricket, but Imam [ul-Haq-] and Fakhar [Zaman] were consistently performing. I didn't complain that I wasn't being selected, because I understood the level of competition was high. If the coach was backing the players, they were doing the right thing”, Masood had explained.

Shafique, however, recognized the pressure on him to prove his worth, particularly in this Test against England. "It was a very important day as the first one of the series," he said. "The partnership between me and Shan gave the team a big boost."

Enduring the harsh Multan heat made his achievement even more remarkable. "It's a challenge batting for long because of this extreme heat in Multan. But you can't let yourself make excuses and keep trying to do what you are required to do. How well you take your opportunity is what matters. It's not just the batter but the whole team which is confident when you do well," Shafique added, as he looks to build on this milestone and solidify his place in Pakistan's Test side.