Dinesh Karthik praises Abdullah Shafique’s technique in England

LONDON: Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has praised Pakistan opener Abdullah Shafique for his composed batting and strong technique in England’s challenging conditions.

Speaking in an interview, Karthik highlighted Shafique as an example of how Asian batters can succeed in English conditions, where movement and swing from fast bowlers can test even experienced players.

According to Karthik, Shafique’s performances showed the value of patience, balance and shot selection against a demanding pace attack.

“He has shown very good technique against fast bowlers in English conditions,” Karthik said, while praising the Pakistani batter’s ability to remain controlled at the crease.

Karthik was particularly impressed by Shafique’s soft hands and the control he maintained while playing his attacking strokes. Rather than forcing the pace, the Pakistan batter appeared willing to wait for deliveries that could be scored from.

The former India cricketer also pointed to Shafique’s attractive strokeplay, especially his cover drives and shots played through the mid-on region.

He noted that Shafique did not appear rushed when facing the new ball. Instead, the batter waited for loose deliveries and made the most of opportunities when bowlers strayed from their lines.

Karthik also praised Shafique’s ability to play elegant flicks, adding another dimension to his batting against the fast bowlers.

England’s conditions traditionally present a major challenge for Asian batters because of the movement available to seamers, particularly when the ball is new. Strong defensive technique and disciplined shot selection can therefore make a significant difference.

For Shafique, the praise from a former international cricketer comes at an important time as Pakistan continue their campaign in England.

His ability to combine patience with controlled stroke-play could prove valuable as Pakistan face further testing spells from England’s pace attack.

Karthik’s assessment also underlines a broader lesson for Asian batters: in England, timing and technique can often be more valuable than aggression.

For Shafique, mastering those conditions could further strengthen his reputation as one of Pakistan’s technically sound top-order batters.