KARACHI Dec 19 (TNS): Pakistan’s dynamic teen leg-spinner Shadab Khan is excited to play in Australia, a dream that he says would become a reality with his debut in the Big Bash League.
“In the press conference, I said that playing in Australia was a dream for me and it has now become a reality. I am really excited about learning new things here in tough conditions with @HeatBBL,” the Pakistani prodigy said in a tweet on Monday.
The 19-year-old was recruited by Brisbane Heat in August this year, which signed him on in place of West Indian wrist spinner Samuel Badree for the 2017-18 campaign.
The BBL season is set to start in Australia on December 19.
It appears that Shadab is not the only one excited about his entry into the league.
Australian newspaper The Courier Mail said the wrist spinner was “tipped to throw the Big Bash League into a spin” as he makes his Brisbane Heat debut in Wednesday’s tournament opener against the Melbourne Stars at the Gabba.
“I’m very excited about Shadab,” Heat skipper Brendon McCullum told The Courier Mail.
“I played with him (in the Caribbean Premier League) and followed his career around the globe. He’s only a young man but he’s already made a big impact on world cricket. He is a multi-skilled cricketer. He is dynamic in the field and has been brilliant with the bat in hand.
“I’m sure the Brisbane public will warm to him.”
Shadab has made impressive progress since his international debut for Pakistan last year, producing starring T20 turns in the Pakistan Super League and the Caribbean Premier League. He earned player of the match honours in his first two T20 Internationals for Pakistan against the West Indies, claiming 3 for 7 and 4 for 14.
Heat coach and former New Zealand international Dan Vettori has also been all praise for the Pakistani teen prodigy.
“He is one of the most dynamic young spinners in the game and will fit nicely into the style of play that we want to employ this summer,” Vettori had said earlier after the young spinner signed his BBL contract.
“He is quick, he is tough to pick but he is also a very good batsman and very good fielder, and we have got him at a young age … like I said that we have one of the young stars of world cricket, and that is exciting for everyone involved.”
