The wicket-keeper batsman Azam Khan has become the first Pakistan player to be signed for the UAE League with the Glazer family promoted Desert Vipers securing his services ahead of the debut season of the ILT20.
The wicket-keeper batsman Azam Khan has become the first Pakistan player to be signed for the UAE League with the Glazer family promoted Desert Vipers securing his services ahead of the debut season of the ILT20.
Worldwide firm Lancer Capital, which claims the Manchester United group in the English Premier League, has signed up with Azam, a right-handed wicketkeeper-batsman. He is the first Pakistan signing in the ILT20 which has five different franchises, all owned by the Indians.
Son of yesteryear Pakistan keeper Moin Khan, Azam (24) has played three T20 Internationals. Also, he has addressed Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators in the PSL, Galle Gladiators in Lanka Premier League, and Barbados Royals in the CPL.
“Pakistan keeper-batter Azam Khan is an exciting addition to Desert Vipers! He is one of the world’s best players of spin in T20 cricket, averaging 35 with a strike rate of 160 against slower bowlers. Azam is ideally suited to attacking those middle overs for Desert Vipers (sic),”
the franchise said, introducing him in a social media post.
The squad, with Tom Moody as the director of cricket and James Foster as head coach, has a host of English players with Sam Billings headlining the signings.
Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, MI Emirates, Sharjah Warriors, Dubai Capital, and Gulf Giants are the five groups of Indians-owned sides that have abstained from enrolling the Pakistani players, dreading reaction at home.
Among other signings are Sheldon Cottrell (West Indies), Tom Curran (England), Ben Duckett (England), Alex Hales (England), Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka), and Benny Howell (England).
“I am honored to lead the cricket operations of Desert Vipers in what promises to be an entertaining and high-quality tournament. We have assembled an excellent mix of youth and experience in a highly skilled squad and I warmly welcome our players from all over the world in what is truly an international event,”
Moody said making the announcements.
Desert Vipers Squad: Sam Billings (England), Sheldon Cottrell (West Indies), Tom Curran (England), Ben Duckett (England), Saqib Mahmood (England), Alex Hales (England), Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka), Benny Howell (England), Azam Khan (Pakistan), Sandeep Lamichhane (Nepal), Colin Munro (New Zealand), Sherfane Rutherford (West Indies) and Ruben Trumpelmann (Namibia).