Last Updated on 6 years by Charbel Coorey
BBL08: Three Pakistan players who could do well in BBL
By Abdul Shakoor. Twitter: @Abdushakoor_
Cricket leagues are trending nowadays and the craze of the shorter format continues to increase in leaps and bounds. Almost every prominent cricket-playing nation has introduced its own league to engage fans around the world and carry on the T20 vogue.
Big Bash League is renowned as one of the best all-round entertaining leagues, now in its eighth edition. The league is famous for picking, very carefully without auction, players from all over the cricket world. Pakistani players including Shahid Afridi and Yasir Arafat have played for BBL in the past.
The league is buoyed by the addition of talented players from different nations. Rashid Khan has played for Adelaide and viewers will also see Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Sandeep Lamichhane in action in BBL08.
With Shadab Khan and Yasir Shah playing the previous edition of BBL and Usman Shinwari drafted by Melbourne Renegades this season, here’s a list of Pakistan players who could do well in this very league.
#3 Hussain Talat
BBL is not a league in which many overseas players, especially from Asia, are picked for their batting services. The all-Asian picks for BBL08 and previous editions didn’t include any specialist batsmen. But Hussain Talat has shown his good 130+ bowling skills in PSL and in his debut T20I series against Windies.
He is a middle order batsman who usually bats at number three or four, and is one who tries to play till the 20th over. He’s strike rate is not very fiery but he’s one who can stabilise the innings by his good stroke play. He’s been with the Islamabad United franchise in PSL for all three seasons and has impressed many by his style of play. His overall average in T20 is 34 and can came handy with his bowling having good variations and pace.
Ideal franchise: Brisbane Heat
#2 Faheem Ashraf
Faheem Ashraf was added in the Pakistan squad as a batsman who can bowl. However, his recent performances mirror the fact that he’s a good first choice bowler in T20s. With his bowling action that angles the ball into the right-handed batsmen and good pace, the choice to bowl him in the powerplay has bore fruit.
Apart from that, he has shown some great skills in the death overs and has the ability to nail some yorkers at the back end of the innings. Moreover, he’s a good choice as a batsman in the final overs and can really whack the ball around the ground.
Ideal Franchise: Sydney Thunder
READ: Six big BBL08 Predictions + Fantasy Tips!
#1 Fakhar Zaman
Not a bowler but makes a strong case for his inclusion in BBL. He’s the kind of batsman who likes pace on the ball, in which case quicker pitches suit him. Earlier this year, he made a good statement by playing beautifully in New Zealand. His uncanny ability to play aggressively in the powerplay, with strong offside play and a healthy strike rate proves his worth as a T20 opener. The pitches of Australia can suit his batting style.
He has a good overall strike rate of 140 in T20Is with the highest of 91 against Australia in Tri-Series Final in Zimbabwe where he pulled his team from a collapse-provoking situation. Last year, he batted his way through a fierce 94 in PSL. Apart from his batting heroics, he can also be a part-time spinner option where the need arises.
Ideal Franchise: Perth Scorchers
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BBL08: Three Pakistani players who could do well in BBL
