ISLAMABAD: After a string of lackluster performances in the recently concluded T20 World Cup, Pakistan’s under-fire leg-spinner Shadab Khan notched two consecutive four-fers in the ongoing Lanka Premier League tournament this week. 

Cricket analysts and critics have questioned skipper Babar Azam’s decision to include Khan regularly in Pakistan’s playing XI squad, especially in red-ball cricket formats, despite his abysmal performances with the ball in the past year-and-a-half. 

Khan, who was once regarded as a top-all-rounder for Pakistan, has conceded expensive runs and failed to perform with the bat as well over the past couple of matches for Pakistan. However, Khan returned figures of 4-22 and 4-21 for the Colombo Strikers— the franchise he plays for in the Lanka Premier League— in their last two consecutive matches against the Galle Titans and Kandy on Wednesday and Tuesday, respectively. 

“Khan-tastic,” the Strikers wrote on their social media platform, featuring a picture of the Pakistani leg-spinner. “Picking up from where he left last night.”

However, Khan’s 4-21 failed to deliver the Strikers the win as they lost to the Titans by seven runs in a thriller, courtesy of a fiery half-century by Niroshan Dickwells. On Tuesday against Kandy, Khan’s 4-21 figures were instrumental in the Strikers picking up a comfortable 51-run victory over their opponents. 

Angry cricket fans and commentators have demanded the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) take drastic measures to improve the national squad’s performance after Pakistan’s dismal performance in the T20 World Cup last month. 

The South Asian country lost to minnows USA in their tournament opener and later to India, forcing them to crash out of the tournament in the first round. This was Pakistan’s second dismal performance within the last 12 months in an ICC tournament, as the green shirts failed to perform up to the mark in the 50-over ICC World Cup in India last year. Azam’s side lost to India, Australia, Afghanistan, South Africa and England, which meant Pakistan failed to qualify for the semifinal stages of the tournament. 

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters last month he would perform a “surgery” to improve the team’s performance. However, he has so far not announced any major decisions related to the cricket team.