Ahmed Shehzad revealed a conversation with Younis Khan while heading towards the team bus at the end of third day’s play on Friday, played a crucial part in helping him get to his swashbuckling century yesterday and put Pakistan in complete control of the opening Test match against Australia in Dubai.
The 22-year-old Shehzad made 131 – his second Test hundred in six Test matches – and shared crucial partnerships of 71 with opener Azhar Ali and 168 runs with No3 Khan.
Shehzad said his positive mindset was a result of his talks with the veteran Khan.
He said: “I was 21 not out yesterday and when we were going to the team bus, Younis came up to me and said: ‘It has taken me 12 years to get a century against Australia. You are playing well, so make sure you get yours against them tomorrow’.
“These are small things, but they stay with you. They motivate you.”
Shehzad, who had earlier this year got his first Test century against Sri Lanka in Sharjah, said it was easier to score at a faster clip than stay at the crease yesterday.
“I was disappointed with the way I got out in the first innings. I was more focused in the second innings.
“Scoring quickly here is lot more easier, you can just extend your arms and go free without thinking anything else. But it tests your skills to stay there for 300 odd balls.
“I am very proud to have scored a hundred by staying there and playing according to my team’s needs,” he added.
Australian captain Michael Clarke conceded Pakistan have played better in all departments of the game but warned they will not give up easily today. “We probably haven’t had the best of games so far,” he said.
“Warner was the stand-out with the bat in the first innings. Mitch Johnson bowled pretty well in the first innings on a really flat wicket. But if you look at all facets of the game, we’ve been outplayed at this stage.
“We’ve got to fight our backsides off tomorrow and see what happens. And we never give up. But credit needs to go to Pakistan. They’ve played really well. They batted really well in these conditions and unfortunately we haven’t been able to do the same.”
Clarke was lbw to Yasir Shah in the second innings for three, but the TV replays showed the ball hit his bat first. And yet, he did not go for the review.
When asked what was going through his head, Clarke said: “I’d like to know as well.
“There’s a number of things. The fact that I wasn’t sure if I hit the ball and I was unsure if it hit my bat before my pad. So, I was thinking it was probably pad then bat if I did hit it at all. Chris was unsure as well up the other end.
“My mindset is because I’m unsure, I didn’t want to waste the referral when I knew the rest of my teammates were probably going to need them tomorrow.
“It was certainly a mistake, an error on my part looking back at the replay once I walked off the field. My performance in this Test match has been disappointing with the bat. There’s no doubt about it.”
