Pakistan opener Abdullah Shafique etched his name in cricket history by becoming the first opener to score three consecutive ducks during a bilateral ODI series. This unfortunate milestone was achieved during the third ODI against South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. Opening the innings with Saim Ayub, Shafique fell to Kagiso Rabada on his very first ball, edging it to Aiden Markram at second slip, marking yet another setback for the Pakistani team, which aimed for a historic whitewash on South African soil under the captaincy of Mohammad Rizwan.
Shafique’s dismal performance over the three-match series is accompanied by statistics indicating his alarming batting slump. His troubles began with the first ODI at Boland Park, Paarl, where he was bowled by Marco Jansen for just four balls. The following game saw him managed again by Jansen, this time departing for two balls. With the golden duck recorded at Johannesburg, Shafique has now embarrassingly joined the ranks of several cricketing greats like Sachin Tendulkar, Suryakumar Yadav, and Anil Kumble, all of whom have also had their share of multiple consecutive ducks.
Shafique’s back-to-back failures have painted him across different media outlets as the unfortunate successor of those iconic names. Among Pakistani openers, he stands as only the second player beside Salman Butt to be documented for three successive ducks. Only nine other players globally have reached such disgraceful heights, including legendary figures like Mahela Jayawardene and Shane Watson alongside Tendulkar. The record for the most consecutive ducks stands at four and is jointly held by Lasith Malinga, Craig White, and Henry Olonga.
This unique plight is not his only legacy crafted this series; Shafique has also set another record by surpassing Imran Nazir and Mohammad Hafeez for the most international ducks within a calendar year. Seven ducks so far put Shafique at the top of this unfortunate leaderboard, achieving this dubious milestone within just 21 innings this year.
Pakistan’s performance overall has been considerably stronger than Shafique's. Winning the series against South Africa with two victories previously, the team was aiming for their second consecutive ODI series triumph away from home. Shafique's poor run forced Babar Azam, the team’s leader, to enter the batting order earlier than desired as the team pushed for significant team totals.
The third ODI presented a thrilling match story. Despite the early dismissal of Shafique, Saim Ayub and Babar Azam put together solid partnerships, scoring significant contributions to take Pakistan to 329 all out. Pakistani bowlers, particularly Shaheen Shah Afridi, excelled on the day, thwarting South Africa’s batting unit as they fell for 248, well short of the target. Shaheen’s impressive bowling showcased Pakistan’s prowess and contrasted starkly with Shafique's performance, illustrating the highs and lows of the game.
Fans and analysts are now eagerly awaiting Shafique's next opportunity. If he finds himself dismissed again without scoring, the prospect of matching the record for consecutive ducks will loom large over him. His unfortunate string of low scores certainly creates questions about his place as Pakistan’s opener going forward and whether adjustments may be considered after such scrutiny.
The cricketing community will certainly be watching Shafique closely, who must now address both technical and psychological aspects to regain form. Despite the challenges he faces, the opportunity for redemption remains on the horizon as Pakistan prepares for the two-match Test series following this ODI joy.
