Debutant Faheem puts Kasur on world cricket map

By our correspondents
June 13, 2017

CARDIFF, Wales: Faheem Ashraf on Monday put Kasur on the world cricket map when he became the first cricketer from this city from eastern Punjab to play for Pakistan.

The 23-year-old all-rounder made his international debut in the must-win ICC Champions Trophy game against Sri Lanka at Sophia Gardens. Pakistan dropped young leggie Shadab Khan to make place for Faheem apparently in a bid to use his medium pace as well as his six-hitting prowess down the order.

Faheem, who has scored 1207 runs at 32.62 and taken 94 wickets from 31 firt-class matches, didn’t disappoint with the ball as he picked up 2-37 from 6.2 overs as Pakistan dismissed Sri Lanka for 236 in 49.2 overs.

The 23-year-old Faheem announced himself at the international stage just before the start of the ICC Champions Trophy when he lifted Pakistan out of the jaws of defeat in a warm-up game against Bangladesh at Edgbaston. After a Tamim Iqbal century allowed Bangladesh to post 341-9, Pakistan seemed set to suffer a big defeat as they first slipped to 168-5 and then 249-8. But Faheem belted 64 off 30 balls with four fours and an equal number of sixes to give Pakistan an unlikely win.

The left-handed batsman found himself in a similar situation on Monday when he walked in with Pakistan precariously placed at 137-6. Faheem hit a six and a four before falling bizarrely. It was poor technique that caused his dismissal, getting run-out after a straight drive from Sarfraz Ahmed off Thisara Perera hit the stumps at the non-strikers end after brushing the fingertips of the bowler. Replays showed Faheem was short of his ground.