Shaheen Afridi has joined Desert Vipers in the ILT20 for the next season which begins on January 13. The Pakistani fast bowler has signed a three-year contract with the team which makes him the first Pakistani player to feature in the league after he was granted NOC by the PCB for the same.
Desert Vipers had also signed Azam Khan in the first edition of the league but the PCB denied him NOC to play in the league which restricted him from playing in the league.
Shaheen Speaks
“I am excited to join the Desert Vipers. I know there are many Pakistan cricket fans in the UAE and I hope they will support our team in the upcoming ILT20,” Afridi said in a statement. Shaheen will join the lineup of world-class bowlers like Wanindu Hasaranga, Matheesha Pathirana Tom Curran, and Sheldon Cottrell.
Reacting to the signing Tom Moody Vipers’ director of cricket said “Shaheen is a player of world-class caliber who has had a significant impact not only for Pakistan but for every team he’s played for in recent times,” Vipers director of cricket Tom Moody said on their new signing.
“He offers a huge amount as an impact pace bowler that has destroyed many, many top orders and he also boasts terrific leadership skills that will add a huge amount of value to the Desert Vipers moving forward.”
Change in Stance
PCB has softened its stance on granting NOC to players allowing them to play in leagues around the world after certain players expressed their displeasure regarding the decision taken during Ramiz Raja’s tenure. His successor Nazam Sethi was in talks with the organizers of ILT20 to allow Pakistani players to participate in the league.
The current chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board Zaka Ashraf has allowed the players to participate in the league which is a big win for the organizers as it already has some big Indian names and with the addition of Pakistani players the league will become more competitive.
