Shahzaib Hasan's first international call-up came four years ago, as he was selected for the 2009 ICC World T20. Top scorer on debut against New Zealand in the match considered to be the catalyst for the turnaround of Pakistan's fortunes in the 2009 tournament, the hard-hitting opener went on to play four matches in the World T20, including in the final against Sri Lanka which culminated in Pakistan lifting the trophy at Lords. To date, Hasan has played ten T20Is and three one-day internationals, and last played for Pakistan three years ago. 

The 23-year-old, who has scored over 7,000 domestic runs, is considered one of the biggest hitters in Pakistan. In List A cricket, he has scored 1,518 runs at an average of 40 and strike rate of exactly 100 in 39 games. In domestic T20s, he has played 60 matches, scoring 1,190 runs with a strike rate of almost 140. Currently representing Port Qasim Authority, he will be hoping to catch the eye of the selectors given Pakistan's continued troubles at the top of the order in limited overs cricket. 

PakPassion.net spoke to Shahzaib Hasan about being part of the team that won the World T20 in 2009, subsequently being dropped by Pakistan, his desire to resume an international career and his thoughts on domestic cricket. 

by Farid Khan (21st November 2013)

PakPassion.net: Winning the World T20 in 2009 was a fairytale introduction to international cricket for you. What are your memories of that tournament?

Shahzaib Hasan: Winning the World T20 in 2009 was a fantastic experience. I was starting my international career and was looking to establish my place in the side. Given it was the first time I had been selected by Pakistan, and I had a lot of things to learn - it was a steep learning curve for me. Conditions in England have always been difficult for teams from the sub-continent and due to this our victory was even more special. At that time, Pakistan had domestic catastrophe – the floods in 2009 - and we were proud we could give the nation something to cheer about.


PakPassion.net: Did you believe that the World T20 would be the start of a long career for you for Pakistan?

Shahzaib Hasan: That was my hope. As I have mentioned above, the conditions in England are very hard and require you to be at your best. If you thrive under those conditions, you are almost certain to do well anywhere else in the world. Given we won the tournament, I was hoping I could have played for Pakistan for a longer period of time, but unfortunately that was not the case. 

Yes, there is always disappointment when you are dropped from a side. We all work very hard, day-in and day-out and if it doesn't pay dividends, it hurts, but you work hard to try and make a comeback. We should not stray from the path and must continue working on our shortcomings - that's the only way we can bounce back stronger. One has to perform to remain in the side and that's what all of us try to do. There is always motivation and I believe hard work never lets you down. You must not forget your basics and just focus on achieving your goals that you have set for yourself. There is always hope.

I also know that in cricket only 11 players can represent a team, and I might not be part of the best XI in Pakistan right now. The selectors must believe that and that's why I am out of the side. I am working hard on my weaknesses and will continue to look to perform going forward. Although I just played three ODIs and didn't perform too badly in them, one half century in three ODIs doesn't guarantee you a place in the side. In my last ODI, I scored 39 and was still dropped from the side. It is part and parcel of the game. Players go through various patches, but again, the key is to continue working hard and to pile up runs in domestic cricket.


PakPassion.net: Is it unfair to label you a T20 specialist?

Shahzaib Hasan: I am playing in all three formats of the game in domestic cricket and my performance is good in all of them. I don’t restrict myself to one format only and it’s entirely up to the selectors to play me in whichever format they see fit. If they like my performances, they will surely recall me. My only job is to play cricket and to perform according to my ability - that’s all I can do.


PakPassion.net: Karachi doesn't seem to be producing the great batsmen that it has been famed for over the years. Is there any particular reason for this?

Shahzaib Hasan: I don’t agree that Karachi isn’t producing quality batsmen any more. There are a lot of aspiring, quality batsmen in Karachi. Again, it’s up to the selectors to select the best players. They must feel we are not doing enough to get selected in the side. Our sole job is to play, focus on our game and score runs to catch the eye of the selectors, which we try to do all the time.


PakPassion.net: What are your plans for this domestic season?

Shahzaib Hasan: I have scored runs thus far in the three matches I have played this season and I am pretty happy with that, although there is always room for improvement. I have several sub-targets, which I have to achieve on my way throughout this season. My overall aim for this season is to score at least 1,000 runs and I am confident of achieving it.


PakPassion.net: Has batting become more difficult in Pakistan's domestic cricket, given the glut of low scores?

Shahzaib Hasan: The low scores are nothing new. It has been happening for the past few seasons now. From when I started playing domestic cricket until now, there have been low scoring games. It all depends on the pitches that are prepared and the conditions. If the pitches are batting friendly and the conditions are favourable, the batsmen will enjoy their batting and at the same time, the abilities of bowlers will also be tested.


PakPassion.net: What do you consider to be the most important skills for a good batsman?

Shahzaib Hasan: Firstly, a batsman should be attacking and I am not just saying this because I am of the same nature myself! Attacking play is very important in modern day cricket. However, a batsman should be able to play according to the situation of the game. If he’s too attacking where the situation is not demanding him to be, he’s not an asset for the team and if he’s too defensive, he won’t add to the value of the team either.


PakPassion.net: What are your thoughts on the fielding standards of Pakistani cricketers?

Shahzaib Hasan: Fielding skills are developed at the grass-root level. Here in Pakistan, we don’t have qualified coaches for low-profile teams, so our youngsters don’t learn the tricks and trades in relation to fielding. If we compare our grass-root level to other countries, there is a big difference. Fielding is an art and it takes time to master. You cannot become a very good fielder overnight. You must be devoted and should work hard to brush up on your fielding skills.


PakPassion.net: What are your thoughts on coaches in domestic cricket?

Shahzaib Hasan: Coaching is not an easy job. It's a thankless job. You don't get credit for a win, but are always blamed for a loss. You don't want too many, but there should be enough coaches in place who are able to identify good players. There should be coaches who know what the shortcomings of a player are, those who can easily identify the faults and also have a remedy for them. We must never compromise on quality. A coach is an integral part of the team unit.


PakPassion.net: Do you think an international team needs a batting coach?

Shahzaib Hasan: A batting coach is a must. Looking at other countries, they have consultants and coaches for each and every facet of the game. Similarly, in Pakistan, if we have a bowling coach, a fielding coach and a head coach, then why not a batting coach? I’m inclined towards having a batting coach with the team and I feel it will help us a lot.


PakPassion.net: Attendances in domestic cricket are very poor. What can the PCB do to improve this?

Shahzaib Hasan: There is a need for the matches to be televised. People in Pakistan won’t necessarily be aware that there is a match going on in the stadium. They must also be made aware of the fact that there is a lot of talent in Pakistan. To display the talent, the PCB should take steps and try to televise as many domestic matches as possible. We have had discussions with the PCB regarding this issue, as it will help unearth new talent as well. It's not easy to attract crowds, but an effort can certainly be made. 


PakPassion.net: Thank you for your time.

Shahzaib Hasan: Thank you.

  Discuss!