Karachi Kings Star All-Rounder Breaks Silence on National Team Snub

Karachi Kings all-rounder Khushdil Shah has broken his silence on his omission from the Pakistan national team following a match-winning performance against the Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL 11).

The 31-year-old delivered a decisive performance for the Karachi Kings, playing a key role in a successful 200-run chase. He scored an unbeaten 44 off just 14 balls, hitting five sixes and two fours to take his team over the line inside 18 overs.

He came to the crease with 55 runs required from 28 balls and five wickets in hand. He shifted the momentum by scoring 23 runs in a single over off Shaheen Afridi and later sealed the victory with back-to-back sixes against Haris Rauf, keeping Karachi Kings’ playoff hopes alive.

Speaking on the post-match show Pitch Side, Khushdil said his focus was clear when he went in to bat. “My aim was to help the team win at least one match,” he said.

He also shared an unbeaten 57-run partnership with captain David Warner, contributing the majority of the runs. Khushdil revealed that Warner advised him to remain composed and take the game deep.

“Warner said that we had to fight until the last ball. He gave me a lot of confidence and told me to take the match till the end and not play any rash shot,” he said.

Explaining his approach against top bowlers, he added, “My simple plan was to stay deep in the crease and play.”

Addressing his exclusion from the national team, Khushdil highlighted his approach compared to other players and emphasized that he focuses on performance rather than public reaction.

He said he does not rely on social media or past clips to highlight perceived injustice, instead focusing on his performances on the field.

“Among all the players in Pakistan, I am different from everyone. I’m not on social media, nor do I post old videos claiming I was treated unfairly,” he said.

He also pointed to his recent domestic performances, adding, “Recently, in domestic cricket, batting at number 5 or 6, I scored 700–800 runs and even made a double century, yet I’m still dropped from the team.”

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