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Pietersen to Shehzad: ‘Leave the helicopter shots to MS and I’

Dawn Sport Published March 17, 2016
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Explosive English batsman Kevin Pietersen has advised Pakistan’s Ahmed Shehzad to banish the ‘helicopter shot’ after the 23-year-old announced his comeback to the national side with a fifty against Bangladesh in the World T20 Super 10 fixture on Wednesday.

Shehzad, who regained his slot on the national roster after some controversy regarding his selection, displayed a wide array of shots around the ground in his 39-ball 52.

The right-hander plundered eight boundaries against the Bangladesh bowlers and smartly rotated the strike as well. He featured in two vital partnerships with Sharjeel Khan (26 runs for the first wicket) and Mohammad Hafeez (95 runs for the 2nd wicket) to ensure Pakistan posted 201.

Pietersen congratulated his Quetta Gladiators teammate for his performance.

“Love seeing the good guys do so well! Well done yesterday, @iahmadshahzad!” KP posted on his Instagram account.

“Top batting but leave the helicopter shots to MS & I!” he added.

Pietersen was disappointed that Shehzad did not double his runs but believed that the right-hander did well enough to prove his selection.

“You could have got a 100! Not bad for someone who wasn't selected in the first place,” added the seasoned cricketer.

Shehzad and co. take on arch-rivals India in their second Super 10 match on Saturday at Kolkata.

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syed wasim haider
Mar 17, 2016 07:56pm
Sincere advice from a genuine person. Take it seriously.
Recommend 0
Zak
Mar 17, 2016 08:14pm
KP should be in the England team showcasing his talent. England's Loss!
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adnan
Mar 17, 2016 08:33pm
he is demoralizing the Pakistani cricketer, this is not 'advice' if it were advise, i am sure KP has AS's personal number or Facebook ID to talk to him directly this is deliberate use of social media to put him down. we will see other such examples as Ian Chapel has done so also that Afridi will find it difficult etc. why not comments about Indian , Srilankan team members? why just on Pakistan's team?
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Cyrus
Mar 17, 2016 08:58pm
Get the ball solidly on the bat and it will go long. Sometimes they have the eye, sometimes they don't. When you are hitting well the ball looks bigger.
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Harmony-1©
Mar 17, 2016 09:03pm
I thought helicopter shot was just MS trademark!
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Arslan
Mar 17, 2016 09:25pm
It is good advice.
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Ali
Mar 17, 2016 09:58pm
Still not convinced about Shehzad's temperament. We'll see how he does against better bowling because good performance in one match does not prove anything. I do wish him best of luck though.
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Zak
Mar 17, 2016 10:36pm
Yes, leave helicopter shots to Pieterson and instead , do space shots.
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Zak
Mar 17, 2016 10:37pm
The foreigners in PSL loved being in the pakistan league. They are waiting for it to move to pakistan.
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KP New Coach
Mar 17, 2016 11:08pm
KP could be Pakistan's new batting coach to create consistent openers!
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The Outsider
Mar 17, 2016 11:21pm
Stop taking it so seriously, gosh. It was a tongue in cheek comment to poke some fun. There is a reason for the exclamation mark and emoticons.
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Wasi
Mar 17, 2016 11:39pm
@adnan Because Afridi is irresponsible and has immature batting to lose games more often.
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Sixer From Chakwal
Mar 17, 2016 11:41pm
@Harmony-1© Now you made a point seriously
Recommend 0
parveez
Mar 18, 2016 12:04am
@adnan Take it easy Now days It's the best way to communicate
Recommend 0
AdHawk
Mar 18, 2016 12:57am
Shehzad would do well to listen. He often loses his wicket to rash strokes that indicates a temperament issue. Keep a lid on it and he can be threatening.
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Ali jee
Mar 18, 2016 01:03am
Kp come Pakistan team manager
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Imran A.
Mar 18, 2016 01:10am
That's a pretty proud statement to make. I'm have a feeling that the way we played against Bangladesh, the other teams are weary of us. It's not about Afridi or Shehzad, it's divide and conquer. It's only 11 players to confuse.
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raj
Mar 18, 2016 01:17am
I also noticed some change in his style of hitting balls.
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Ashraf M.
Mar 18, 2016 01:40am
@adnan Because both are team members in Quetta Gladiators, a sincere advice from KP, whats wrong in advising someone who threw away his wicket for a flashy shot, Ahmed Shehzad's overconfidence costs him his wicket. He needs to put his head right if he wants to become a world class batsman.
Recommend 0
Ravi
Mar 18, 2016 01:54am
@Zak get a reality check
Recommend 0
Anon
Mar 18, 2016 02:28am
Most didn't get it. KP is being KP. Egotistical among many other things. In this instance he is being cynical, not complimentary to a fine inning played by Shehzad. Request to Pak team: Could you please stagger your form. Thanks.
Recommend 0
PL Bakhshi
Mar 18, 2016 03:04am
If k. Pireterson could learn and now executes helicopter shots, why the youngster Shehzad can't do the same. That is the quality of a good batsman. As the career ptogreses, the batsman improvises on his deficiencies, makes corrections to errors and picks up new techniques of shots. Instead of telling the batsman to leave the helicopter shots, which are trademark of MSD he ought to have advised him as to what improvements he needs to bring while executing such cmlassical shots. His advice depicts arrogance in him which has caused his omission from representing his country, unfortunately his talent is wasted.
Recommend 0
Ahmer
Mar 18, 2016 03:22am
Not even MS plays that shot anymore.
Recommend 0
sanjay
Mar 18, 2016 04:42am
@adnan He tweets what's in his mind. Why would he reach out to everyone he has opinion on. Amazed how a compliment is received as a conspiracy to doom the pak team. Why would he try to do that. What's the incentive??? People don't spend as much time thinking about the Pak downfall as you would like to think. He played well and was complimented by some one who thinks he could have made this count in an even bigger way! End of the story.
Recommend 0
Azmeen
Mar 18, 2016 05:04am
Good advice & encouragement.
Recommend 0
Iztraab
Mar 18, 2016 07:08am
Why there is so much negativity towards pakistani cricketers. If they don't do good then there is criticism, if they do good then negative comments. For god sake let them breath.
Recommend 0
Shadow
Mar 18, 2016 07:56am
Another unnoticed and hardly talked about fact...while Indians have conveniently scheduled at least 3 days rest between their matches,pak has only 2 days...though not a big disadvantage , the fatigue factor both mental and physical will hurt pak more if there is ltitle time to recoup..authorities should be impartial to all teams while deciding on the fixtures.
Recommend 0
Al
Mar 18, 2016 08:18am
Oh.......Kevin Pietersen, you cannot be more correct. Shahzad finds ways to get out after taking control of innings. After a long time Shahzad had a chance to really go big and he again found a way to get out to an incredibly stupid shot, so dumb founded indeed. He did not keep in account that he has hardly scored runs in so many T20 outings for Pakistan and here is the opportunity to score big, but instead he gave it away
Recommend 0
Rustom E Hind
Mar 18, 2016 09:01am
@adnan he is demoralizing the Pakistani cricketer, this is not 'advice' if it were advise, i am sure KP has AS's personal number or Facebook ID to talk to him directly this is deliberate use of social media to put him down. we will see other such examples as Ian Chapel has done so also that Afridi will find it difficult etc. why not comments about Indian , Srilankan team members? why just on Pakistan's team? its sad but the entire world is conspiring against Pakistan
Recommend 0
zulu
Mar 18, 2016 09:05am
KP is man and he proved that ,ever since i have seen him he has been kicked off as he performed well and done well with a lazy side in his national side back at home . he is flamboyant character his ad voiced is sincere
Recommend 0
dedar
Mar 18, 2016 09:16am
Shehzad should introduce 'Fighter Jet Shot'.
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ss
Mar 18, 2016 09:42am
@adnan You always see the negative side. Pak now used to of Eden Garden and laready played a match there. Your first match was with BD a relatively weaker team. Stop nagging
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Gunner
Mar 18, 2016 09:42am
KP is THE man.. Gotta love him for the person he is.. Too bad he's not part of the World T20
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Pathetic
Mar 18, 2016 10:21am
KP spot on. I hope he realises himself too. I don't like such players who think 50 is enough. Now somebody else should do it. Shehzad was further humiliated when he could not handle simple catch. I hate show offs.
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Fowez
Mar 18, 2016 11:40am
@Ali But "good performance in one match" is how Afridi has thrived on the national team for a decade.
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SHADOW
Mar 18, 2016 12:06pm
There is nothing wrong in trying different things. So what if one copies a successful shot employed by MS. I am not sure if even KP executed the shot as well as MS and whether he can take the liberty of including his name with MS. If adapting somebody's technique is a crime , then no team other than Pak should bowl the reverse swing which was invented by the sultans of swing (wasim and waqar).
Recommend 0
Al
Mar 18, 2016 12:45pm
If only Shahzad listens to this legend of batting he will take positive tips from it. The ball he got out he could have hit anywhere, a superb cover drive, a powerful pull to square leg, or a smack over the bowlers head. But instead he chose to play a woeful shot. Cannot understand what goes through a mind of an international player who just regained his place in the side after he was totally written off. He should be careful because this could be make or break tournament for Shahzad. Pakistan needs decent opening partnership in this World Cup, if he can provide that, than he will be hailed and if not than he will be written off. So walk carefully on what you tread.............. Mr. Shahzad
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Saeed Ahmed
Mar 18, 2016 01:45pm
Certainly this was not an advise but a comment which smells like jealousy. Despite that still Shehzad needs more maturity and consistency to keep his place in the team, this does not give right to anyone to make degrading comments like this. British players and media is always looking for only bad things on Pakistani cricket. It's hard for them to accept that Pakistan is a sovereign country and has got tremendous talent, particularly in the field of international cricket.
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Khalid (From Japan)
Mar 18, 2016 01:50pm
KP is right. I personally believe AS can easily that length off stamped ball on point boundary for four... but he tried the helicopter shot to got himself out. There are very few batsmen who can play such "orthodox" shot..... Like Great ViV, MS, AB Dev , KP and Shahid Afridi......
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Abdulla Hussain
Mar 18, 2016 02:56pm
Good advice. I think Team Pakistan should try to play attacking game in the upcoming match against India. Good fielding will prove vital for the winning team. No catch should be dropped. batsmen should not panic play. Runouts will pose a big threat for the batsmen.
Recommend 0
Mighty Somu
Mar 18, 2016 03:21pm
@Shadow Pak are playing at the same venue, while India had to travel from Nagpur to Kolkata. That cancels out the "extra" rest day India are getting
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Waseem Sarwar
Mar 18, 2016 04:12pm
Why so much negative comments about it. KP is just having some fun with his Quetta team mate. I remember KP was shocked to see Shahzad's name missing from initial squad for WT20 while he was speaking to commentary team in PSL final. This is a huge perk of franchise cricket as international cricketer better know each other while playing for same team.
Recommend 0
daada
Mar 18, 2016 05:34pm
one OK performance against an OK team should not give him the OK to play in the international squad! he should still be sitting on the bench
Recommend 0
Kodoo
Mar 18, 2016 06:11pm
@Fowez exactly! Lala's last t20 fifty was in 2012...
Recommend 0
Khash
Mar 18, 2016 08:57pm
KP Is the best senior see his interview always helping juniors.But Pakistanis r too negative
Recommend 0
Cricket-One
Mar 19, 2016 03:31pm
Kevin, if you are such a master of this stroke, then why are you not in the present team ?
Recommend 0
Sohaib
Mar 19, 2016 05:11pm
@adnan I don't get people like you who speak without any real perspective, but rather base your opinions on unfounded speculation. With reference to KP's remarks, please note that not only does KP speak as a teammate of Shehzad's, but also as a mentor and friend. Further, if you check KP's tweets since the first announcement of Pakistan's T20 world cup squad, you'd realize that he expressed disgust at Ahmed Shehzad's exclusion from the squad, and rejoiced when he was finally included. You are a paranoid so and so who just acted in a manner unbecoming of an educated, informed person. Really reflects bad on our society!
Recommend 0
Bored
Mar 19, 2016 08:32pm
No Originality!!! Shehzad compared with kohli and now copying Helicopter
Recommend 0
schal
Mar 20, 2016 05:32am
@Shadow At every step, there is conspiracy and favoritism, what the world has come to.
Recommend 0

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