PSL 2019: Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Ilyas and other promising Pakistan youngsters

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  • Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi is among several youngsters on display.

    As the fourth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) gets ready to get underway, all eyes of the cricketing world will be on the UAE as top international and Pakistan stars battle it out in the T20 competition.

    The PSL has played a key part in Pakistan’s rise in limited-overs cricket of late and served up plenty of exciting young talents for the national team.

    The upcoming edition promises to be no different with plenty of youngsters looking to make their marks.

    Here, we look at six such young Pakistan players who could turn heads for their respective franchises.

    ISLAMABAD UNITED

    Mohammad Musa

    One of the several promising Pakistan players who will be desperate to make an impact in the PSL will be Mohammad Musa who was picked as one of the two emerging talents by Islamabad United.

    The 18-year-old Islamabad local has been making rapid strides in junior cricket and played a big role in Pakistan’s march to the semi-final in the ICC U-19 World Cup in New Zealand last year.

    There, the fast-bowler clocked speeds over 147kmph and his raw pace could prove to be a handy asset for the defending champions. With Shoaib Akhtar and Waqar Younis among his idols, Musa has already set his sights on big things in the PSL and has targeted picking the wickets of AB de Villiers and Babar Azam in the competition. No pressure then, young man.

    Mohammad Musa (second from r). Image - IslamabadUnited/Twitter.

    Mohammad Musa (second from r). Image – IslamabadUnited/Twitter.

    LAHORE QALANDARS

    Shaheen Shah Afridi

    If Musa is looking for inspiration, he need not look far given Shaheen Afridi’s meteoric rise. The young left-armed pacer was Musa’s team-mate in the U-19 ICC World Cup last year and has since gone on to touch remarkable heights at senior-level cricket.

    Afridi’s performances in the PSL last year saw him earn a maiden Pakistan T20 cap and the young pacer has not looked back ever since. He is now a regular for Pakistan in all three formats and was excellent with the ball in the recent T20I series against South Africa.

    It is hard to believe Afridi is still a teenager given the volume of senior international cricket he has already played but his stock should only continue to rise from here on.

    Afridi's star is on the rise in international cricket.

    Afridi’s star is on the rise in international cricket.

    KARACHI KINGS

    Ali Imran

    One of the many Pakistan youngsters worth watching out for will be hard-hitting all-rounder Ali Imran of Karachi Kings. The 20-year-old broke into the limelight with an explosive century for Pakistan TV in the Quaid-e-Azam One-Day Cup and has made rapid strides since.

    Imran already has an impressive List A record after 18 matches with two tons and as many half-centuries to his name. His domestic performances saw him called up to the Pakistan side for the Asia Emerging Nations Cup and he showed his prowess with an attacking century against Hong Kong in the UAE.

    He can also bowl some handy medium-pace to go with his batting and could turn out to be a potential gem for Karachi in the PSL.

    PESHAWAR ZALMI

    Nabi Gul

    The young batsman was picked up by Peshawar Zalmi after impressing in the Zalmi Azadi Cup and is one of the domestic players with plenty of potential.

    The 20-year-old registered a fine century on his first-class debut for Peshawar where his 166-ball 138 helped his side overhaul the tricky target of 374 runs.

    He did not make score many runs in the National T20 Cup held in December last year but caught the eye with an impressive strike-rate over 145. Two first-class tons in just five matches shows that the youngster has a big future ahead of him and the PSL could be his chance to take the spotlight.

    MULTAN SULTANS

    Mohammad Ilyas

    He might not have any previous experience of T20 cricket but Mohammad Ilyas is as promising a talent as they come.

    The 19-year-old made headlines last year in October when he picked up 10 wickets on his first-class debut for Peshawar. Ilyas picked up five wickets in each innings of the Quaid-e-Azam First-Class Trophy against Islamabad and has not looked back ever since.

    In just five first-class matches so far, the pacer has already picked 33 wickets at an average of just 15.90. He has also managed to grab 10 wickets in his seven List A appearances with a healthy economy-rate of less than six.

    For Ilyas, the PSL could prove to be the stepping stone for much bigger things in the future.

    QUETTA GLADIATORS

    Mohammad Hasnain

    If not for a back injury to another promising pacer in Nasim Shah, Hasnain might not have got the opportunity to represent Quetta Gladiators in the PSL.

    However, Shah’s loss is Hasnain’s gain and the fellow pacer is being touted for big things by skipper Sarfraz Ahmed already.

    The 18-year-old is no stranger to the PSL having been a part of the Islamabad United side in the 2018 edition. An injury in that season prevented him from getting a single game but he should definitely make his debut in the competition for Quetta this year.

    Hasnain has all the raw pace to trouble batsmen and he will be eager to take his chance this time around after missing out last year.

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