LAHORE: Karachi Kings spinner Adam Zampa has shared insights into his absence from the Indian Premier League (IPL), revealing that financial considerations played a key role, as he “wasn’t really on the radar” of franchises.
Speaking in an interview with a local sports platform, the Australian leg-spinner explained that the financial rewards available to players with his skill set did not justify the significant time commitment required for the tournament.
“To be brutally honest, for someone with my skill set, the money just isn’t there compared to what’s available for other skill sets,” Zampa said. “Considering the amount of time the IPL requires, it didn’t seem like a reasonable choice for me to keep playing.”
Zampa had initially planned to take a break from cricket, but an unexpected opportunity arose when he was picked by Karachi Kings for the Pakistan Super League (PSL). He admitted the move came together quickly but said he is enjoying the experience.
Quality of teams
“I was planning to take a break, but then the PSL came onto the radar about a month ago,” he added. “It all happened pretty quickly, but I’m enjoying it.”
Reflecting on the competition, Zampa praised the quality of teams and opposition in the league.
“Yeah, good. You know, looking at the team we played against, you can see the names in their squad and the quality, particularly of their bowling attack. It’s almost an international-quality bowling attack,” he said.
“We were chasing 129, so for them to make it so close down to the wire, I think it really shows the quality of their bowling. There are definitely some good teams out there,” he added.
The 34-year-old also singled out Shaheen Afridi for praise, highlighting the Lahore Qalandars captain’s impact and skill.
Shaheen Afridi
“One player I really enjoy watching is Shaheen Afridi. I played against him yesterday. He bowled really well and took four wickets. It always feels like something exciting is happening whenever he’s bowling,” Zampa revealed.
He further admired the left-arm pacer’s abilities and wicket-taking instinct.
“He clearly knows what he’s doing and has a real knack for taking wickets. Would I like to bat against Shaheen? I have faced him before, and honestly, most of the time I’m just trying not to get hurt. But yes, he’s very good,” he said.
Zampa also mentioned his friendship with Haris Rauf while comparing the strengths of fast bowlers in Pakistan.
“Haris Rauf is also a good friend of mine, and I play with him quite a bit. There are a lot of good cricketers around, but if I had to pick, I’d say I enjoy watching Shaheen the most,” he concluded.
