KEY POINTS
- Gillespie praised Irfan as a top talent and urged T20 franchises worldwide to sign the 22-year-old batter
- Despite Shaheens’ semi-final exit, Irfan impressed with 127 runs at a strike rate of 130.90 in the Top End T20 Series
ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan head coach and Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie has on again praised young batter Muhammad Irfan Khan, calling him a “quality player and outstanding person” with a bright future in international cricket.
Gillespie strongly recommended T20 franchises around the world to sign the 22-year-old, saying he believes Irfan will be a long-term player for Pakistan.
“The T20 leagues will come calling. I would recommend him to any franchise or team,” Gillespie wrote.
Irfan recently played for the Pakistan Shaheens in the Top End T20 Series in Australia, where he impressed with his performance despite the team being knocked out in the semi-finals.
He scored 127 runs in six innings, with a strike rate of 130.90 and an average of 24. He often stepped up when the team was in trouble, showing his ability to handle pressure.
This isn’t the first time Gillespie has shown support for Irfan. He earlier criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for not including the young batter in the Champions Trophy squad.
“Irfan Khan Niazi is one of the hardest hitters and cleanest strikers of a cricket ball in Pakistan. He is also the best fielder in the country. I cannot believe that he was not picked,” Gillespie said.
In the Top End T20 Series semi-final, Perth Scorchers Academy beat the Shaheens by 48 runs. The Scorchers scored 155-8 in 20 overs, with Nicholas Hobson making 59 and Teague Wyllie adding 29.
In response, the Shaheens were all out for 107 in 17.1 overs. Only Khawaja Nafay (26), Mohammad Wasim Jr. (25), and captain Irfan Khan Niazi (17) made notable contributions.
Three batters – Yasir Khan, Saad Masood, and Mehran Mumtaz – were dismissed for zero.
