LAHORE: Pakistan’s emerging opener Shamyl Hussain delivered a strong response to his critics following a blistering half-century in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 11 clash between Quetta Gladiators and Karachi Kings on Friday.
Representing Quetta, the 21-year-old produced an eye-catching 52 off just 24 deliveries, striking five fours and four sixes to set the tone in a steep chase. However, his efforts went in vain as the Gladiators fell 14 runs short in a closely contested encounter.
Speaking after the match, Shamyl addressed the growing scrutiny around his performances, making it clear that external opinions will not influence his approach at the crease.
“As a cricketer, we are always trying to improve. No one has a perfect technique, especially early in their career—you learn gradually,” he said.
“When I was performing in domestic cricket, no one questioned my batting. Now, after a couple of failures, it suddenly becomes a problem.”
The left-hander stressed the importance of self-evaluation over public perception, highlighting the need to stay grounded amid fluctuating criticism.
“Public opinion keeps changing. My job is to assess myself and understand what is working. If something won’t work going forward, I’ll change it, but if it is working, I’ll stick with it,” he added.
Shamyl Hussain also underlined the mental demands of professional cricket, insisting that players cannot afford to be swayed by outside noise.
“I cannot change my batting based on what people say. I didn’t reach here because of them, and I won’t be dropped because of them. My focus is on improving myself and moving forward,” he concluded.
The young opener recently made his international debut for Pakistan in the ODI series against Bangladesh, where he endured a modest start, scoring just 10 runs in two appearances.
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