Johannesburg, December 22, 2024: Pakistan opener Abdullah Shafique endured another disappointing performance in the third ODI of their series against South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. He was dismissed for a first-ball duck by South African paceman Kagiso Rabada. Shafique, who was opening the innings alongside in-form Saim Ayub, edged Rabada’s delivery towards Aiden Markram at second slip, leaving Pakistan with an early setback after losing the toss.
The Pakistan team, led by Mohammad Rizwan, had already secured the series, having won the first two matches.
Shafique’s ongoing struggle with the bat continued, marking his third consecutive duck in the series. Earlier, in the first ODI, the 25-year-old was clean bowled by Marco Jansen for a four-ball duck at Paarl’s Boland Park. In the second ODI at Cape Town, Shafique fell for a two-ball duck, caught behind off Jansen’s delivery.
With three ducks in a row, Shafique has now joined the ranks of renowned cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar, Suryakumar Yadav, and Anil Kumble, who have experienced multiple scoreless innings in succession.
Shafique is now one duck away from matching the record of four consecutive ODI ducks held by players such as Lasith Malinga, Craig White, and Henry Olonga.
Despite Shafique’s early departure, Pakistan’s number three Babar Azam entered the crease to continue the innings, as Pakistan looked to complete a rare 3-0 whitewash on South African soil.
