Ahead of the start of the Pakistan Super League, The Cricketer looks at some of the more intriguing talent to watch out for
A signing for Multan Sultans in last year’s player draft, the leg-spinner has turned out to be something of a bargain in the silver category.
A year later, he is four matches into an international career that has begun with significant promise, following in the footsteps of his late father, the great Abdul Qadir.
With his rising stock, Qadir earned a promotion when he was retained as a gold player, giving his franchise plenty to think about in the process.
For, Qadir is one of three leg-spinners in Multan’s ranks – the youngest and least experienced. Shahid Afridi and Imran Tahir have taken 726 T20 wickets between them. For all his potential, Qadir’s comparatively short career has picked up just 43 in 39 games, which included a brief stint with Perth Scorchers.
All of which makes him one to watch; it wasn’t long ago that he declared his intention to represent Australia, having moved to Western Australia after becoming disillusioned back home. “My goal is to play for Australia in the 2020 World Twenty20,” he said in 2018. But those days are long gone. Twelve wickets in six T20Is represent a terrific start.
Qalandars' new dawn, Alex Hales' big month and the old guard continue to rule... PSL THINGS TO WATCH
It seems almost inconceivable that Rashid Khan has never played in the Pakistan Super League until now, such has been his worth on the franchise scene for so long. The wrist-spinner, chosen by the ICC as their T20 player of the decade, will make his competition bow for Lahore Qalandars.
Perhaps, therefore, it is somewhat unnecessary to include him on a list like this. But, in truth, when isn’t Khan one to watch? Unfailingly dominant wherever he’s been, these next weeks are simply the next on his quest towards usurping Dwayne Bravo as the leading T20 wicket-taker of all time.
With 343 wickets in 247 games, he is already ahead of Afridi in 75 fewer career appearances, and it is surely inevitable that he will eventually overhaul Bravo.
He joins a Lahore side boasting a potent bowling attack: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Dilbar Hussain and Haris Rauf are a compelling trio of seamers. The addition of the world’s premier white-ball spinner will give last year’s runners-up a considerable edge.
Rashid Khan is set for his first PSL experience
It was something of a surprise when Multan Sultans released Mohammad Ilyas ahead of this year, such was the potential he had shown in the two previous years.
In a sense, he was as close to a project player as the franchise circuit is likely to provide, taking 18 wickets in two seasons at an overall economy rate of 8.79 before being let back into the draft pool.
“He’s got everything,” Multan Sultans bowling coach Azhar Mahmood told The Cricketer last year. “I’ve worked on a few technical issues with him – he was collapsing his front leg.
“He’s got the potential to play for Pakistan, there’s no doubt about that. The way he’s working, if he keeps that up, he will be pushing the door of the Pakistan team sooner rather than later.”
At just 21 years of age, there is still plenty of time on his side and, given his early efforts, it would be a surprise were Mahmood to be proven wrong.
He has joined Karachi Kings, where he is likely to have an opportunity. Beyond Mohammad Amir, the reigning champions don’t possess a standout fast bowler, which could open the door for Ilyas to shine again.
VISIT THE PAKISTAN SUPER LEAGUE HUB
It’s about time, you might say. So consistently excellent has Paul Stirling been for so long, few would argue with Islamabad United for bringing the Ireland vice-captain in at the eleventh hour.
Signed as a replacement for Chris Jordan, who has been called up for England duty during the white-ball leg of their India tour, Stirling – ranked 35th in the T20 Player Index – is hardly a like-for-like alternative.
But his recruitment does raise the prospect of a fascinating top order for Islamabad, who re-signed Alex Hales ahead of the draft in a swap deal with Karachi Kings, who have taken Colin Ingram in return.
It would be an ambitious, highly watchable approach were Stirling, Hales and Phil Salt all to line up in a hard-hitting top three. Stirling arrives in decent touch as well, having made scores of 64 and 48 in the Abu Dhabi T10 League at the start of February, just days after a fine ODI series against Afghanistan in which he struck two consecutive hundreds.
Mohammad Ilyas impressed for Multan Sultans, but has been signed by reigning champions Karachi Kings
So much is hoped of Haider Ali, still only 20 years old but with the early signs suggesting a player to stand at the forefront of Pakistan’s next generation.
Peshawar Zalmi are hardly short on quality batsmen – Kamran Akmal, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Shoaib Malik, David Miller, Imam-ul-Haq, Ravi Bopara and Sherfane Rutherford offer plenty of depth, but Ali is a certain starter and his franchise’s great hope for the future.
He was one of only three Peshawar players to pass the 200-run mark last year – and the youngest by almost his entire lifespan, with Akmal and Malik.
A career strike rate of 150.46 in T20 cricket is another eye-opening aspect of his young game: in just 33 innings, he has struck 44 sixes and 70 fours, several of those in last year’s National T20 Cup, where only nine players scored more runs and only two – Khushdil Shah and Sohaib Maqsood – flew along at a faster rate.
Already a fledgling member of Pakistan’s white-ball plans – he made his T20I debut in September and played the first of two ODIs in November, a couple of big innings will only help to further enhance a burgeoning reputation.
Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.