Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey
5 players from Associate Nations who could be amazing in the IPL | Players from Associate Nations who could perform well in IPL cricket
The empire of cricket has been expanded across many countries over the years. Brilliant talents continue to emerge from various nations, which has increased the enjoyment of spectators as well as the competitiveness between teams on the field.
But, there are many talented players who are seldom noticed as they represent the Associate nations and therefore unfortunately don’t get enough opportunities at the highest level. In this article, I will name five players from Associate counties who could be great additions to any side in the IPL, if they ever get picked. Here we go:
5. George Munsey
George Munsey has been a fabulous addition to the orthodox Scottish batting line up; he has the ability of tonking every ball pitched in his arc. Debuting for Scotland in 2015, he has a decent average of almost 30 and a phenomenal SR of more than 154 with one hundred in T20Is.
Also, Munsey has the experience of playing English county cricket, having spent a considerable period of time with Northamptonshire. With age on his side, he could be picked in the IPL if he continues to impress with his destructive batting. He certainly has the ability to make his mark in the mega event.
4. Najibullah Zadran
Najibullah Zadran has been one of the mainstays of the Afghanistan batting unit for quite some years now. Being an effortless striker of the cricket ball, he has mostly been given the duty of a finisher in T20s. He has batted at 5, 6 and 7 in 37 innings out of his 51 innings in T20Is, in which he has a terrific average of almost 43 and a SR of 146 cumulatively, which signifies how good a finisher he is.
The important thing is he can bat as per the game situation. So, he can be a useful overseas addition to any side in the IPL, if he ever gets a chance.
3. Kevin O’Brien
Perhaps the best cricketer to have emerged from Ireland, Kevin O’Brien is one of the most impactful players to represent an Associate nation. His tremendous knocks in crucial stages have given Ireland some miraculous victories including that famous win against England in the 2011 World Cup.
He has proven himself in immense pressure situations time and again, and turned out to be the game-changer. Also, his dibbly-dobbly seam bowling can be useful in the slow Indian tracks. He can seriously be the X-factor for any team in the IPL. It’s unfortunate that he has not got a single opportunity in the mega event so far despite featuring in the IPL auctions.
2. Paul Stirling
If you watched the third ODI of the 2020 series between England and Ireland, you pretty much get an idea about the impact that Paul Stirling provides at the top. If he gets going, he can demolish any good bowling attack. He has played his part in almost all the great victories in the history of Ireland cricket.
His stats also speak for his ability to strike the ball hard. As an opener in T20Is, he has a decent average of almost 30, a SR of 140 and has been a prolific member of the Irish cricket team over the years. He surely can be the basher at the top, who can provide a perfect start to any team in the IPL, if he ever gets picked.
1. Mohammad Shahzad
We all know Afghanistan has developed itself as a competitive T20 side possessing stars like Rashid Khan, Mujeeb and Nabi. But, the first centre of attraction from Afghanistan on the global stage was Mohammad Shahzad. A player belonging to “see the ball, hit the ball” category, Shahzad is definitely a treat to watch when on song.
Having a T20I century to his name, Shahzad had a great T20 World Cup 2016 in India, where he amassed 222 runs at an average of 32 and a SR of more than 140, including a blistering 44 off just 19 balls against the mighty South African team. His best quality is his fearless batting, which provides a great start to his team most of the times and eases pressure off his team mates. He has been impressive in T20 leagues across the world, but has not made his entry to the IPL yet, which is baffling. So, I wish he gets a chance in the IPL someday and impresses everyone with his destructive batting.
This is my list of five cricketers from the Associate nations who could do amazingly well in the IPL. Have your say!
Thanks for reading!
Written by Debashish Sarangi. Follow Debashish on Twitter today.
Also read: All-time T20 XI: Who makes the cut?
