WATCH: How an ONION helped Pakistan cricketer avoid going to school 

Shahzaib Khan used to skip school using an onion to increase his temperature.

WATCH: How an ONION helped Pakistan cricketer avoid going to school 

Shahzaib Khan scored 264 runs in 6 innings (Image via ESPNcricinfo)

Shahzaib Khan is an opener from Pakistan, who played in the ongoing ICC U19 World Cup in South Africa. An opener for Pakistan, the 18-year old scored 264 runs in six matches, with an average of 52.8.

During the semi-final clash between Pakistan and Australia, commentator Marina Iqbal narrated a story of how the young opener avoided going to school. Khan used to hate going to school, preferring to spend his time playing cricket. To ensure he could avoid going to school, the opener used onions. 

YouTube video

Khan used to keep an onion under his pillow, which caused his body temperature to increase due to its pungent nature. As his body temperature started increasing, he was able to skip school thanks to the fake “fever”. 

Ian Bishop, who was also on-air, complained to Iqbal how he never knew this trick. He jokingly said he would have also become a better cricketer if he skipped school. The producer even joked how people would now skip school thanks to Khan’s secret. 

India and Australia to face each other in U19 World Cup finals

On 11th July, Australia beat India in the finals of the 2023 World Test Championship finals. Three months later, India faced Australia in the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup finals and lost by 6 wickets. The two sides will face off yet again in another final, this time in the 2024 U19 World Cup final.

Tom Straker
Tom Straker leads the Australian side after he picked up six wickets (Image via ESPN)

Australia beat Pakistan in the final, winning by just one wicket. Electing to bowl first, Australia bowled out Pakistan for just 179 runs. Right arm pacer, Tom Straker, picked up six wickets. Pakistan batters Azan Awais and Arafat Minhas top scored with 52, with the 2nd highest score being 17. 

The Pakistan pacers bowled brilliantly as well, with Ali Raza taking four wickets. The Australian batters struggled to score runs, with only two batters crossing 40. By the 27th over, Australia lost half of their batting line up. Luckily the talenders took the match till the last over and won with a wicket in hand. 

The final will be played in the Willowmoore Park Stadium, Benoni. India are the defending champions, winning the 2022 edition of the competition. 

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