BIRMINGHAM: All Pakistani cricketers in England’s T20 Blast competition this summer will play tonight for county sides in north and south groups, save Hasan Ali, who is awaiting injury scan results.
Hasan, who joined with Warwickshire CCC this season, was expected to play for Birmingham Bears in T20 Blast.
Hasan hurt his ankle during warm-ups at Edgbaston stadium minutes before the Bears’ tournament opener against Yorkshire Vikings.
North group stars include Shan Masood, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Zaman Khan, Haider Ali, and Usama Mir. South group teams will feature Shadab Khan and Zafar Gohar.
Moreover, Leicestershire CCC play Birmingham Bears in their maiden home game at Uptonsteel County ground. Fast bowler Naseem will play again.
While, Glen Maxwell has strengthened the Birmingham Bears’ batting after their opening match win over Yorkshire Vikings.
Moreover, After IPL, the Aussie joined Bears Squad.
Bears await their normal captain Maoenn Ali, who plays for CSK in the IPL. Moeen Ali will miss additional Bears games with CSK in the final.
Leicestershire Foxes’ Blast opener against Lancashire Lightning featured right-arm fast bowler Naseem.
Lancashire beat Leicestershire by 8 wickets in 12 overs chasing 99. Naseem went wicketless.
Moreover, Shaheen, Pakistan’s best fast bowler, will make his Nottinghamshire Outlaws debut tonight against Derbyshire Falcons in the ‘East Midlands Derby’ at Trent Bridge.
Shaheen will lead the home team’s speed assault, while Zaman will lead Derbyshire Falcons’.
Haider, another promising Pakistani batsman, will open for Derbyshire.
The Pakistan Super League’s Lahore Qalandars quickies play in the “Battle of Qalandars” match.
Shaheen has termed Zaman the best PSL emerging talent. Derbyshire’s head of cricket Mickey Arthur praised Zaman’s performance in the Falcons’ T20 Blast opener against Lancashire Lightning, which they lost.
Masood will lead Yorkshire Vikings to New Road tonight to play Worcestershire Rapids.
Northamptonshire Steelbacks.
The host squad will want Pakistani player Usama Mir to maintain his all-round performance from their first meeting against Northamptonshire Steelbacks.
Worcestershire’s short-term signing Mir was instrumental in Rapids’ 15-run win over Steelbacks.
He took 3 wickets for 21 runs in 4 overs and scored 20 runs on 7 balls with 2 sixes and a boundary.
Masood’s Yorkshire Vikings will try to win their first Blast match after losing to Bear.
Left-handed Shan is Yorkshire’s first Pakistani captain. Vikings lost their first game against the Bears at Edgbaston last Friday, with Masood scoring five runs.
Sussex Sharks’ Blast debutant Shadab. Sharks in the South group will play Somerset at home in Hove in their first encounter. Somerset beat Hampshire 8-0 in their first encounter.
Gloucestershire CCC left-arm spinner Zafar Gohar will play tonight against Glamorgan.
He plays first-class and Blast matches for Gloucestershire.
