From DG Khan to HBL PSL X; Young Muhammad Shahzad eager to soak in all the learning
Islamabad United’s 21-year-old batting all-rounder Muhammad Shahzad made his HBL PSL debut in the opening game of the historic 10th edition against Lahore Qalandars and has so far played four matches in the tournament.
Shahzad, born and bred in Dera Ghazi Khan, has been a part of the PCB’s pathway programme, beginning from the U13 level, where he represented Multan Region in 2017. He went on to represent Pakistan U16 in the white-ball series against Australia U16 in Dubai in January 2019 and was also part of squad that toured Bangladesh the same year.
In U19, he featured for Pakistan in the ACC U19 Asia Cup in Dubai in 2021 and took part in the ICC U19 World Cup 2022 held in the West Indies.
Coming back to HBL PSL, Shahzad was part of the Multan Sultans squad in HBL PSL 9 but didn’t get a game, forced his way into the United squad with a stellar all-round showing in the 2024-25 domestic season.
Representing PTV in the President’s Trophy Grade I during the ongoing season accumulated 706 runs from nine matches, which included three centuries and four half-centuries. With his right-arm medium fast, he bagged 20 wickets, which included a five-wicket haul. In the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2024-25, playing for Multan Region, Shahzad scored 335 runs in five outings, including a century and one half-century.
On being part of the Islamabad United squad: “I’m enjoying being a part of the Islamabad United squad and it felt really good back when I was snapped by them in the HBL PSL Player Draft. I had always heard of Islamabad United as one of the best franchises in the league and then to come here and experience the environment was just incredible. I have never been part of such a team before.”
On having a superb domestic season personally: “I prepared for the ongoing 2024-25 domestic season by playing in the PCB Inter District Senior tournament in September and October 2024. The temperatures were quite high during that tournament and I made full use of the tough conditions by acclimatising my fitness accordingly.
“I topped the batting charts across Pakistan and then performed well for Multan Region in Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and for PTV in the President’s Trophy Grade-I. In the final of the latter tournament I bagged a five-for and scored a century and was declared player of the tournament.”
On playing Champions T20 Cup: “The Champions T20 Cup was very good initiative by the PCB because we got to play quality cricket with only five teams though I didn’t perform well but we learned a lot.”
On his interactions with local players in the Islamabad United squad: “I have been trying my best to learn from Shadab Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Sahibzada Farhan and Mohammad Nawaz in the United setup even if I’m not playing.
“I have observed that they play according to the situation in T20 cricket and accelerate accordingly and I’m eager to soak in all the learning so that it helps me in the future.”
On his interaction with Jason Holder: “I had chats with Jason Holder since he is a fast bowling all-rounder. He told me about the differences in the franchise T20 cricket and playing for your country especially in terms of pressure handling and carrying the name of your country.
“With a lot of time still left in the HBL PSL X, I’ll try to learn more from him and other overseas players like Colin Munro.”
On preparations for the HBL PSL X: “Before the beginning of the tournament, we trained with clarity of roles and our aim was to enact our respective role befittingly so that we can emulate that in the matches.
“In batting, I’ve been tasked to bat at No. 6 or 7 but often I pad up after the fall of first and second wicket too because I might be sent in according to the situation. Additionally, I’m mentally ready to walk out and bat and bowl for my team at any point in the game.
“When it comes to bowling, I have kept myself ready for whenever the skipper requires me to bowl an over or two.”
PCB
for his future.
