Ahmed Shehzad and Virat Kohli, though showing similar promise in their initial cricketing years, have gone on different paths in their career. While the 27-year-old Indian is now the heir-apparent to the India captaincy and blazing his way through batting records, the 24-year-old Pakistani is struggling to hold his place in a threadbare batting order.
In the 3rd ODI of the series against New Zealand, Shehzad was batting in the second over when he was subject to some on-air trolling from commentators Simon Doull and Rameez Raja. Shehzad did manage to give a fitting reply though, completely unknown to him.
Doull said, “Shehzad has got all the shots, he has got the ability. His one issue at the start of the career, and he is getting better at it, is ticking over that single.
"Strike rate of 73, modern day, it is okay for an opening batsman. At the start of his career, he could hit the ball so hard to the fielder.
“Personality wise, look wise, batting wise, I know who is trying to be. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to work out that he wants to be Kohli. A little way to go as far as the records are concerned,” he said with a chuckle.
Rameez Raja agreed, saying, “Ya, the looks are not that dissimilar but I think it is the stats. We are talking about 28 (25) hundreds versus 6.”
Shehzad hit a boundary immediately after Rameez Raja made his comment, but sadly the last laugh was not his.
He fell for 12 as Pakistan lost the match on Duckworth/Lewis method after scoring 290 batting first.
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