<p>No matter what happens when Pakistan face England in Sunday's final at the MCG, Shadab Khan has had a Twenty20 World Cup to remember.</p>.<p>Starring with both bat and ball, the 24-year-old all-rounder helped energise Pakistan's flagging campaign when all seemed lost.</p>.<p>After last-ball defeats to India and Zimbabwe, Shadab pulled them back from the brink with three wickets against the Netherlands for their first win.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/england-vs-pakistan-head-to-head-stats-ahead-of-t20-world-cup-final-1161481.html">England vs Pakistan: Head-to-head stats ahead of T20 World Cup final</a></strong></p>.<p>He then turned up with a fiery 22-ball 52 and bowling figures of 2-16 during his man-of-the-match performance against South Africa.</p>.<p>The Proteas' subsequent shock defeat to the Netherlands helped Pakistan gatecrash the semi-finals.</p>.<p>Shadab has been shortlisted for player of the tournament and could well win it if Pakistan do the business against England in the decider at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.</p>.<p>When team-mates and coaches talk about Shadab they all refer to one thing.</p>.<p>"He brings invaluable energy to the team," captain Babar Azam said.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/trouble-at-the-top-ends-indias-world-cup-hopes-1161150.html" target="_blank">Trouble at the top ends India's World Cup hopes</a></strong></p>.<p>Shadab's commitment and relentless energy, whether it be in training or matches, galvanised Pakistan's drooping World Cup.</p>.<p>Like many Pakistani cricketers, Shadab's beginnings were humble.</p>.<p>He grew up playing cricket on the rough pitches of Mianwali district, a farming community near the banks of the Indus River in Punjab province.</p>.<p>It also happens to be home to the former prime minister and cricket legend Imran Khan and former captain Misbah-ul-Haq.</p>.<p>People who know him well said Shadab has always been relentless in his dedication.</p>.<p>"Shadab's commitment to cricket is unparalleled," said his club coach Sajjad Ahmed.</p>.<p>"He used to sleep around 9:00 pm and reach the ground before sunrise.</p>.<p>"That's been his routine for years so that he can practise as much as possible."</p>.<p>It was Ahmed who suggested Shadab should become an all-rounder and not just focus on batting.</p>.<p>Graduating from club cricket to district level and to Pakistan "A", Shadab featured in a 2016 junior World Cup in Bangladesh and finished joint top wicket-taker for his team with 11.</p>.<p>The year after, Pakistan Super League franchise Islamabad United picked him as an emerging player.</p>.<p>"We were picking players in the draft for PSL 2017 and every other team was passing him on so I asked Misbah about him," recalls Hassan Cheema, strategy manager of United.</p>.<p>"Misbah said that Shadab has that fire and instinct that he had not seen in a player for years.</p>.<p>"Six years later you can see his competitive fire and life he brings in the team is invaluable," Cheema told <em>AFP.</em></p>.<p>But to talk only about his energy and commitment risks downplaying Shadab's talent.</p>.<p>As a leg-spinner variations are Shadab's assets and he has had success extracting bounce from the hard Australian pitches at the World Cup.</p>.<p>When he bats and fields his style is aggressive -- his triple ability gives Pakistan flexibility in team selections.</p>.<p>It was then-Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur who brought him into the side in 2017.</p>.<p>"When we got Shadab into the team he was incredibly exciting as a cricketer," Arthur told<em> AFP</em> from Britain.</p>.<p>"He was athletic and was a three-in-one cricketer."</p>.<p>Since then Shadab has added maturity and confidence to his armoury.</p>.<p>"He is a match-winner for Pakistan. The difference I have seen is that he has come from a boy to a man," said Arthur.</p>.<p>Shadab had a dream international debut when he was named man of the match in Pakistan's T20 win over the West Indies in Bridgetown in 2017.</p>.<p>That same year one of Shadab's finest moments came at the Champions Trophy in a showdown against arch-rivals India, where he trapped Yuvraj Singh in front of the wicket.</p>.<p>English umpire Richard Kettleborough was unmoved but Shadab convinced skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed to review -- and was proved correct, making Shadab a hero of Pakistan's win.</p>.<p>"It was very close to the bat but Shadab was confident that it had hit the pad first," Sarfaraz told <em>AFP.</em></p>.<p>"It is his confidence in the ground that helps and motivates the team and that is why he is improving by leaps and bounds."</p>
<p>No matter what happens when Pakistan face England in Sunday's final at the MCG, Shadab Khan has had a Twenty20 World Cup to remember.</p>.<p>Starring with both bat and ball, the 24-year-old all-rounder helped energise Pakistan's flagging campaign when all seemed lost.</p>.<p>After last-ball defeats to India and Zimbabwe, Shadab pulled them back from the brink with three wickets against the Netherlands for their first win.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/england-vs-pakistan-head-to-head-stats-ahead-of-t20-world-cup-final-1161481.html">England vs Pakistan: Head-to-head stats ahead of T20 World Cup final</a></strong></p>.<p>He then turned up with a fiery 22-ball 52 and bowling figures of 2-16 during his man-of-the-match performance against South Africa.</p>.<p>The Proteas' subsequent shock defeat to the Netherlands helped Pakistan gatecrash the semi-finals.</p>.<p>Shadab has been shortlisted for player of the tournament and could well win it if Pakistan do the business against England in the decider at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.</p>.<p>When team-mates and coaches talk about Shadab they all refer to one thing.</p>.<p>"He brings invaluable energy to the team," captain Babar Azam said.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/trouble-at-the-top-ends-indias-world-cup-hopes-1161150.html" target="_blank">Trouble at the top ends India's World Cup hopes</a></strong></p>.<p>Shadab's commitment and relentless energy, whether it be in training or matches, galvanised Pakistan's drooping World Cup.</p>.<p>Like many Pakistani cricketers, Shadab's beginnings were humble.</p>.<p>He grew up playing cricket on the rough pitches of Mianwali district, a farming community near the banks of the Indus River in Punjab province.</p>.<p>It also happens to be home to the former prime minister and cricket legend Imran Khan and former captain Misbah-ul-Haq.</p>.<p>People who know him well said Shadab has always been relentless in his dedication.</p>.<p>"Shadab's commitment to cricket is unparalleled," said his club coach Sajjad Ahmed.</p>.<p>"He used to sleep around 9:00 pm and reach the ground before sunrise.</p>.<p>"That's been his routine for years so that he can practise as much as possible."</p>.<p>It was Ahmed who suggested Shadab should become an all-rounder and not just focus on batting.</p>.<p>Graduating from club cricket to district level and to Pakistan "A", Shadab featured in a 2016 junior World Cup in Bangladesh and finished joint top wicket-taker for his team with 11.</p>.<p>The year after, Pakistan Super League franchise Islamabad United picked him as an emerging player.</p>.<p>"We were picking players in the draft for PSL 2017 and every other team was passing him on so I asked Misbah about him," recalls Hassan Cheema, strategy manager of United.</p>.<p>"Misbah said that Shadab has that fire and instinct that he had not seen in a player for years.</p>.<p>"Six years later you can see his competitive fire and life he brings in the team is invaluable," Cheema told <em>AFP.</em></p>.<p>But to talk only about his energy and commitment risks downplaying Shadab's talent.</p>.<p>As a leg-spinner variations are Shadab's assets and he has had success extracting bounce from the hard Australian pitches at the World Cup.</p>.<p>When he bats and fields his style is aggressive -- his triple ability gives Pakistan flexibility in team selections.</p>.<p>It was then-Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur who brought him into the side in 2017.</p>.<p>"When we got Shadab into the team he was incredibly exciting as a cricketer," Arthur told<em> AFP</em> from Britain.</p>.<p>"He was athletic and was a three-in-one cricketer."</p>.<p>Since then Shadab has added maturity and confidence to his armoury.</p>.<p>"He is a match-winner for Pakistan. The difference I have seen is that he has come from a boy to a man," said Arthur.</p>.<p>Shadab had a dream international debut when he was named man of the match in Pakistan's T20 win over the West Indies in Bridgetown in 2017.</p>.<p>That same year one of Shadab's finest moments came at the Champions Trophy in a showdown against arch-rivals India, where he trapped Yuvraj Singh in front of the wicket.</p>.<p>English umpire Richard Kettleborough was unmoved but Shadab convinced skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed to review -- and was proved correct, making Shadab a hero of Pakistan's win.</p>.<p>"It was very close to the bat but Shadab was confident that it had hit the pad first," Sarfaraz told <em>AFP.</em></p>.<p>"It is his confidence in the ground that helps and motivates the team and that is why he is improving by leaps and bounds."</p>