Shah eyes regular spot in Pakistan T20 team

dubai — Lahore Qalandars leg spinner Yasir Shah almost came close to pulling off a heist against Peshawar Zalmi in a low-scoring game of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL).

And even though it was not to be, his four wickets for seven runs did no harm to his credentials and gave the Pakistan selectors more reasons to pick him for the T20 format.

Shah has been a regular feature in the Test side, having played 23 matches. He has also figured in 17 One Day Internationals but he has played only two matches in the game’s abridged format.

That, in part, has been to preserve him for the game’s longer format, but also the selectors perhaps not having enough faith in the T20s.

But Shah felt that if he continues to perform in the PSL, a regular spot in the T20s is not too far away.

“The PSL is a good opportunity for me to perform well and try and play regularly in T20s for Pakistan,” Shah said.

Although this is the second edition of the PSL, Shah is playing in it for the first time, having missed the inaugural edition as he was serving a ban because of a doping violation. That ban saw him miss the PSL, the Asia Cup and the World T20 last year.

Shah said he was sad to have missed out and in not being able to help his team but is excited to now be a part of Pakistan’s own T20 League.

“Last time when I missed the PSL I was sad because the team had lost matches and I missed being there and not being able to help. This time, I was very excited because I had prepared well with Mushy bhai (Mushtaq Ahmed). And I hope I can continue to perform in the next matches,” said the 30-year-old.

Meanwhile, medium pacer Hasan Ali, who impressed in the first edition of the PSL which was saw him being picked for Pakistan, was pleased to back it up in this edition. Hasan Ali, who picked seven wickets in six matches for the Peshawar Zalmis, took three for 23 against the Lahore Qaladars on Sunday night.

“From the first PSL is when I got picked and my performance has been good for Pakistan. And it is continuing in the second edition as well. So, it has been going good so far and I will try to play all three formats,” said Hasan Ali.

james@khaleejtimes.com