Historic! Indian and Pakistan Cricketer to Play Together in English T20 League
Abdullah Shafique, Ruturaj Gaikwad to play together for Yorkshire in rare India-Pakistan County cricket pairing
In a rare and exciting development, Pakistani batter Abdullah Shafique and Indian star Ruturaj Gaikwad are set to share the dressing room for English County Club Yorkshire.
This marks a unique occasion where players from two rival cricketing nations will play side by side in England’s domestic circuit.
Shafique has signed a short-term deal with Yorkshire and is scheduled to play two County Championship matches at Trent Bridge and York, along with four games in the ongoing Vitality T20 Blast. Gaikwad, on the other hand, had already signed with the club for the T20 Blast season.
Shafique Eager To Represent Yorkshire
Following the official announcement, Abdullah Shafique expressed his excitement about the opportunity. In his first statement, the Pakistan opener said:
“I’m immensely pleased to be afforded this opportunity with Yorkshire and I’m eager to join up with the team ahead of a big game against Nottinghamshire. Headingley is a venue I’ve always wanted to play at, and I’m excited to experience a Roses fixture which I’ve already heard will have an incredible atmosphere.”
He also spoke about the rich legacy of the club and hoped to contribute with the bat during this crucial phase of the season.
A Quick Look at Shafique’s Journey
Abdullah Shafique made a strong start to his Test career, scoring 52 and 73 on debut against Bangladesh. Over the years, he delivered notable performances against top teams like Australia and Sri Lanka. In 22 Tests so far, he has scored 1504 runs at an average of 38, with 5 centuries to his name.
Though his white-ball stats remain average, his return to the domestic scene in England could be a fresh opportunity to regain confidence and form.
On the other hand, Ruturaj Gaikwad last played T20 cricket during the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League. He was leading the Chennai Super Kings before an injury ruled him out of the rest of the tournament.
In the five matches he played for CSK, he scored only 122 runs at an average of 24 and a strike rate of 150. He will be looking to make the most of this stint in England and get back into form.
