World Cup 2023: I let myself down and didn’t live up to potential, says Pakistan’s Shadab Khan

Pakistan leg-spinner Shadab Khan admitted he let himself down and didn’t live up to his potential in the ODI World Cup 2023. Pakistan was knocked out of the ODI showpiece after their 93-run loss against reigning champions England at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Saturday.

Khan went wicketless and conceded 57 runs in his quota of 10 overs against the English team. The leg-spinner scalped only two wickets in the six matches he played and bowled with a poor average of 118.50 and an economy rate of 6.23 in the World Cup 2023. Overall, Pakistan’s bowling was not up the mark, which has always been their strength whereas the batters lacked intent, especially in the middle overs.

”I have let myself down, I didn’t live up to my potential as a bowler which has impacted the team’s performance. You always try to win a tournament, this could not happen. We are out of the semifinals. Coaches, players, support staff everyone is disappointed,” Shadab Khan told reporters after Pakistan’s campaign came to an end on Saturday.

Khan admitted they failed to come up with a collective effort throughout the course of the World Cup.

”Whenever a tournament starts, we have to improve in all three departments. As a team, we failed to adapt to modern-day cricket,” he added.

Khan feels there should be a cultural change in Pakistan as the captain is mostly credited for the team’s success and he is also blamed for the team’s poor show.

“This represents a cultural difference. When we emerge victorious, it is attributed solely to the captain’s triumph. But in times of defeat, the responsibility for the loss falls squarely on the captain’s shoulders. This should change,” he added.

Pakistan managed only four wins and lost five in their World Cup 2023 campaign and finished in fifth place in the standings.