ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Test batsman Asad Shafiq believes the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Twenty20 tournament is a good platform for him and other players to learn more about the game’s shortest format.

“So far it [PSL] has progressed very nicely for me. This league is a big opportunity for me and for every player to perform well in front of everybody,” Asad said in an interview with Sports360.

“In Twenty20, strike-rate is very important so I really want to improve my strike-rate and average as well,” the 31-year-old added.

“It’s about intensity. I have to raise my intensity level in order to score big in T20s because it’s a very short format, and you don’t have much time to get in, really get set and then play your shots. I have to change my approach and I want to improve my intensity,” the right-handed batsman, who has featured in just 10 Twenty20s for Pakistan since making the debut in this format back in 2010, stated.

“Power-hitting really matters sometimes, especially the last three or four overs when you need to play big strokes and I’m working on this as well.”

Asad, who has the highest number of Test centuries batting at six (nine) and is 342 runs off Steve Waugh’s record for the most in that position, admits he would like to bat higher up the order but is adamant that the team’s desires come before his own.

“I think it’s not about my personal thing, it’s about the team and what Misbah and the coach thinks. They made a plan and they told me they want me to play at six,” the 53-Test veteran, with 3,364 runs in the five-day format studded with 10 Test centuries, said.

“Personally, I always prefer to bat top of the order, number three or four. I’d like to be there but what matters [more] is what the team require from me.

“If the team want me to play at number six then I’m really happy with this as well,” he maintained, adding, “I’m working hard on my game to improve every day.”

Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2017