Birmingham: 8 Pakistani cricketers have made it to England’s T20 Vitality Blast, which starts today at the Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham.
This will be the 21st edition of the tournament which was called the Precision T20 League when it started as the Twenty20 Cup in June 2003.
Among the Pakistani players participating in the tournament are fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, experienced fast bowler Hasan Ali, stylish left-arm opening batsman Shaan Masood, all-rounder Shadab Khan, left-arm spinner Zafar Gohar, leg-spinner Usama Mir and youngsters. Players are involved. Guns Haider Ali and Zaman Khan will be in action in the nine-week tournament.
Shaheen Shah Afridi
Left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has signed with Nottinghamshire Outlaws for this year’s Blast.
In the 2020 edition of the tournament, Shaheen briefly represented the Hampshire Hawks. In the match against Middlesex, he took four wickets in four balls.
Shan Masood
Left-handed opening batsman Shaun Masood is leading the Yorkshire Vikings this year.
Masood also featured in last year’s Vitality Blast and was the top run-scorer for Derbyshire Falcons. He scored 547 runs and led the Falcons to the quarter-finals.
Hasan Ali
Veteran Test cricketer Hasan Ali who has signed with Warwickshire CCC for this season will also feature in the T20 tournament.
Right-arm pacer Hasan will be in action for the Birmingham Bears and is likely to lead the pace attack alongside Chris Woakes.
Shadab Khan
All-rounder Shadab Khan has signed with Sussex Sharks and will represent them throughout the tournament.
Right-arm leg-spinner Shadab, who led Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), played for Yorkshire last season.
Haider Ali
Derbyshire have signed explosive batsman Haider Ali for this county season. Haider will also play for Derbyshire Falcons in the T20 Blast tournament.
The 22-year-old has played 33 T20Is for Pakistan. He has played for Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings in PSL.
Haider was groomed by Derbyshire coach Mickey Arthur, who is also the director of the Pakistan Men’s Cricket Team.
Zafar Gohar
Left-arm spinner Zafar Gohar will be back in action for Gloucestershire CCC. Zafar, who has cemented his place in the Gloucestershire fold with his all-round performances over the past three seasons, will be in action for Gloucester Gorillas in the Blast.
Zaman Khan
The 21-year-old fast bowler has been drafted by Derbyshire Falcons for the tournament alongside Haider Ali.
The young pace sensation is a product of Lahore Qalandars’ player development program and recently made his international debut for Pakistan in the T20I series against Afghanistan.
Usama Mir
Leg-spinner Osama Mir will represent Worcestershire Rapids in the Blast.
Mir has played six ODIs for Pakistan and played for Karachi Kings in the PSL and recently for Multan Sultans.
