Pakistan Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq is certain that the Pakistan Super League will have a positive effect on Pakistan’s limited overs cricket, citing Virat Kohli’s rise following his early Indian Premier League exposure as an example.
Misbah played alongside Kohli for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2008 edition of the IPL and is hopeful that his rise to the top of world cricket can be replicated by Pakistan’s young players.
You need look no further than Sharjeel Khan’s call-up to the Asia Cup and World T20 squads after his stunning century for Misbah’s eventual winners Islamabad United to see the PSL positives for Pakistan players.
And Misbah believes the exposure these young players were given and the experienced stars they shared a dressing room with will only serve Pakistan cricket well.
“Kohli was getting out every game,” said Misbah of his time at RCB. “He used to go get 15 or 20 good runs and then hit a poor shot and get out. Look at what happened to him after two or three years. He is almost scoring a century every other game.
“Playing with Jacques Kallis and being around Rahul Dravid and other seniors he learned a lot and is totally a changed player. Similarly, PSL will also definitely help Pakistani players.
“You already can see a lot of youngsters coming through and obviously it’s good for the experienced players also as you’re getting more exposure and getting more chances to enhance your skills and handle pressure.
“That’s what the IPL did for India, and BPL did for Bangladesh. I can clearly see that this is going to really help Pakistan cricket.”
Fresh from hitting the winning runs for Islamabad, Misbah was also optimistic of the PSL providing the impetus for international cricket’s return to Pakistan.
PCB chairman Najam Sethi has already proposed two PSL matches to be played on home soil in 2017 and Misbah believes the success of the first edition will help deliver that.
“You can build confidence from players coming from Australia, England, even some players from Bangladesh and West Indies,” said Misbah.
“They have played with the Pakistani guys, met coaches and people who are part of the establishment. They will know that Pakistan is a safer country and it is going to be safer in the coming days and years. It will be possible for the PCB to bring international cricket back to Pakistan.”
