BIRMINGHAM: As many as eight Pakistani players will feature in this year’s edition of the T20 Vitality Blast, set to commence from Saturday (today) at Birmingham’s Edgbaston stadium.
This would be the 21st edition of the tournament, the first precision T20 league in June 2003 as the Twenty-20 Cup.
Pakistan’s ace fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, experienced pacer Hasan Ali, stylish left-hand opening batsman Shan Masood, all-rounder Shadab Khan, left-arm spinner Zafar Gohar, leg-spinner Usama Mir, young guns Haider Ali and Zaman Khan would be in action in the tournament which will last for nine weeks.
Shaheen Shah Afridi
Left-arm bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has signed for Nottinghamshire Outlaws for this year’s Blast.
In the 2020 edition of the tournament, Afridi briefly represented Hampshire Hawks. In a game against Middlesex, he took four wickets on four deliveries.
Shan Masood
Left-handed opening batter Shan Masood is leading Yorkshire Vikings this year.
Shan also featured in the previous year’s Vitality Blast and was the massive run scorer for the Derbyshire Falcons. He scored 547 runs and led the Falcons to the quarter-finals.
Hasan Ali
Test cricketer Hasan Ali, who’s signed a contract with Warwickshire CCC for this season, would also feature in the T20 tournament.
Right-arm pacer Hasan would be in action for Birmingham Bears and will likely lead the pace attack along with Chris Woakes.
Shadab Khan
All-rounder Shadab Khan signed a deal with Sussex Sharks and will represent them in the tournament.
Right-arm leg spinner Shadab who leads Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), played for Yorkshire the last season.
Haider Ali
Derbyshire has signed explosive batsman Haider Ali for this county season. Haider will play for Derbyshire Falcons in the Twenty-20 Blast tournament.
He has played 33 T20Is for Pakistan. He has played for Karachi Kings and Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL.
Haider was drafted by Derbyshire coach Mickey Arthur, the director of the Pakistan men’s cricket team.
Zafar Gohar
Zafar Gohar, the left-arm spinner, will be in action again for Gloucestershire CCC. Gohar, who’s cemented his place in the Gloucestershire fold with his good performance in the previous three seasons, will be in action for Gloucester Gorillas in the blast.
Zaman Khan
The 21-year-old pacer was drafted by Derbyshire Falcons for the tournament along with Haider Ali.
The good-pace sensation is a product of Lahore Qalandars’ players’ development program and recently made his international debut for Pakistan in the T20I series against Afghanistan.
Usama Mir
Leg spinner Usama Mir will represent Worcestershire Rapids in the blast.
Mir has played six ODIs for Pakistan and has featured for Karachi Kings and, recently, Multan Sultans in the PSL.
