Sunday, December 23, 2007

Pakistan's New Pace Sensation

Last week a national record in Pakistan was broken. Sohail Khan took a match haul of 16-189 including a 2nd innings 9-109 playing for Sui Gas against WAPDA in Pakistan's ongoing domestic first class competition. The record breaking spell broke a 50 year old Pakistani record of 15-76 set by the great Fazal Mahmood back in 1957.

Sohail Khan, a right arm fast bowler from Malakand (a village in the norther areas of Pakistan), is currently playing his first season of first class cricket in Pakistan. Although the first time I heard of Sohail Khan was when he took the 16 wicket haul last week, taking a deeper look at his 9-match first class career shows that the 23-year old boy has made quite an impact on the domestic scene.
He is currently the leading wicket taker in the on going Quaid-e-Azam Trophy with 65 wickets in 9 matches at an average of 18.43! He has taken 5 wickets in an innings 8 times, and 10 wickets in a match twice! He has an innings best of 9-109 and consistently bowls at over 85mph!

Sohail took 5-59 & 5-75 in his debut first class game against . He followed that up with 5-68 & 1-50 in his next match. In the next 6 matches he produced figures of 4-68 & 5-90, 4-102 & 1-39, 3-93 & 3-48, 2-103 & 0-26, 5-86, and 6-102. This was followed by the 7-80 & 9-109. I don't remember the last time a pace bowler made such an impact in Pakistan's domestic circuit.

Pakistan continues to produce quality fast bowlers. With Shoaib looking towards bollywood, Asif and Gul injured, Sami unable to deliver results, Sohail Khan could well be sharing the new ball with his namesake Sohail Tanvir in the near future.

This is Sohail Khan's profile on cricinfo. Here you can read an interview he gave after his record breaking feat.

With a low key series against Zimbabwe coming up in January, Pakistan surely need to give this boy an opportunity.

Make your pitch on this post...



Labels: , ,


11 Pitched:

  1. David Barry said...
     

    I love the way Pakistan can find quick bowlers. He plays street cricket for years, then rocks up to some pace bowling competition in Karachi, wins it, and only then starts playing for a club.

  2. Q said...
     

    Only in Pakistan David, only in Pakistan.

  3. Anonymous said...
     

    Now lets see him crash and burn. What are his chances of screwing up ? 95% or more than that ?

  4. Q said...
     

    How would u define screwing up amk? Do u mean injure himself or not perform at international level?

  5. Viswanathan said...
     

    Q,

    23 - a late bloomer?

  6. Soulberry said...
     

    Just 23! And 65 wickets from 9 matches!

    Certainly would like to see more of him. I don't think burnout will be an issue here....he's young.

  7. Q said...
     

    Late for Pakistan's standards Ottayan but he emerged on the scene 4 years ago when he moved from his village to Karachi. He then trained at Rashid Latif's academy and played for his club.

    2 years ago he was out of action cause of a groin injury and last year was spent working on his fitness and getting him match fit.

    He just started his first class career.

    Right on SB, Id like to see more of him too.

  8. Obaid said...
     

    Im looking forward to see him in action... I hear he might play in the one dayers against Zimbabwe

  9. Q said...
     

    Yep me too. I hope the selectors live up to their word of giving newbies a try...

  10. Jrod said...
     

    Dude has better figures than the dallas cowboy cheerleaders.

  11. Q said...
     

    What kind of fidgures do the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders have Uncle J? :-)

Post a Comment