Shadab Khan was a teenager when he made a name for himself during the 2016/17 Pakistan Super League (PSL) season. He constantly presented himself as someone who has the ability to not only take wickets but also maintain a healthy economy rate, as well. The spinner aces the wrong’un almost every time but as per critics, he bowls it a bit too often, allowing batsmen to read him and smash him all over the park.

But there are times when he reigns supreme and doesn’t allow the batsman to score freely. He not only takes wickets but is also a useful lower-order right-handed batsman.

In July 2016, he played his maiden first-class game and his performance in the U-19 side allowed him to be acquired by PSL franchise Islamabad United. His performance during the domestic T20 league earned him praises from Wasim Akram and Misbah-ul-Haq. Soon after he received Pakistan’s national call-up for the limited-overs tour to the West Indies.

His high rise in Pakistan’s shortest format of the game continued as he took 7 wickets for 21 runs in the first two T20Is and also won the man of the match award on both ocassions.

The 1998-born created noise with his leg breaks at the Under-19 level. He hails from the land that produced the likes of Imran Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq. He moved to Rawalpindi at the age of 12 and took to the sport while playing for his school. He trained at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore and gained wisdom from former greats like Abdul Qadir and Mushtaq Ahmed.

After he was picked for the U-19 World Cup in 2016, he announced his arrival in style bu picking up 11 wickets from 6 games at a mind-blowing average of 19.

He mostly bowls more flighted delivery and tries to outwit the batsmen in the air. After an excellent first edition with Islamabad United, he put on a repeat performance in the second edition by picking up 9 wickets from 8 games.

One big plus point, he is an excellent fielder at point.

During his West Indies debut, he earned the distinction for the most economical spell on T20I debut. In his first T20Is, he got 3 man of the match awards; the same he received in ODIs for his 3-wicket-haul and a composed fifty.

Shadab was also a part of Pakistan’s ICC Champions Trophy 2017-winning squad in England. The following month, he received his Test cap. Still, a long way to go, the young spinner will be Babar Azam‘s deputy in the ICC men’s T20 World Cup 2021.