Pakistani right-arm pacer Zaman Khan made a memorable start in the T20 Blast tournament, showcasing his talent by taking two wickets on his debut for Derbyshire Falcons.
Initially struggling in his first two overs, Khan made a remarkable comeback, conceding only 10 runs while also claiming two crucial wickets in his last two overs.
Despite the efforts of destructive Pakistani batter Haider Ali, who unfortunately got out on the first ball of the tournament, the Falcons managed to post a competitive total of 179-5, courtesy of Wayne Madsen’s classy half-century.
However, Lancashire proved to be strong contenders, chasing down the target of 180 with four balls to spare. Luke Wells played a pivotal role in their victory, smashing a blazing 66 runs off just 35 balls.
The Vitality Blast tournament features a total of eight Pakistani players, including Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali, Shan Masood, Shadab Khan, Zafar Gohar, Usama Mir, Haider Ali, and Zaman Khan, who will showcase their skills over the nine-week duration of the competition.
Shaheen Afridi will represent Nottinghamshire Outlaws, while Shan Masood will lead Yorkshire Vikings, aiming to build on his impressive performance from the previous edition with Derbyshire Falcons.
Shadab Khan has signed with Sussex Sharks, having previously represented Yorkshire. Haider Ali and Zaman Khan will feature prominently for Derbyshire Falcons.
Hasan Ali, the hero of the 2017 Champions Trophy, will be in action for Warwickshire CCC, representing Birmingham Bears.
Zafar Gohar will continue to make his presence felt for Gloucestershire CCC with his all-round abilities, while leg-spinner Usama Mir has been signed by Worcestershire Rapids to bolster their bowling attack in the opening phase of the T20 Blast.
These talented Pakistani cricketers will undoubtedly add excitement and competition to the T20 Blast, showcasing their skills on the grand stage of English cricket.
