Waqar credits PSL for producing new talent

KARACHI: Legendary fast bowler and former head coach Waqar Younis believes Pakistan Super League (PSL) has brought significant improvement in Pakistan’s Twenty20 cricket and has been producing new talent since its inception.

Pakistan have been the number one Twenty20 side since January 2018, an achievement Waqar has credited to PSL.“I think if you look at the shorter version, you feel there are significant improvements and they are mainly due to the PSL,” said Waqar, who is the director of defending champions Islamabad United.

Waqar was Pakistan’s coach when the PSL’s first edition was held in 2016. He left the job after the team’s unsuccessful World Twenty20 campaign in India.

Waqar said HBL PSL had been producing new talent and the PCB should groom the youngsters carefully. “Every PSL throws some good talent. There are some good players who have come to the fore from Islamabad United,” said Waqar of the franchise that won the inaugural event in 2016 and doubled their tally in 2018.

Islamabad United have groomed Shadab Khan, Rumman Raees, Faheem Ashraf, Sahibzada Farhan and Ammad Butt.Waqar singled out lanky paceman Shaheen Shah Afridi as one of the finest finds of the PSL.

“I am very impressed with Shaheen Shah Afridi,” said Waqar of the paceman from Landi Kotal, whose five-wicket haul against Multan Sultans in 2018 caught the eyes of the selectors and Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur.

Islamabad United have talented Under-19 all-rounder Nasir Nawaz and National Twenty20’s second-highest run-scorer Rizwan Hussain this year in their ranks. “These young players are the future of Pakistan,” he added.

Waqar, who has coached in the leagues of India, Bangladesh and Canada – believes PSL will become one of the top leagues once it is fully staged in Pakistan.“Currently, it’s in the top three,” said Waqar of the PSL. “Of course, IPL is at the top, there is no doubt. PSL is getting bigger and better. The league will pay more dividends once it is fully staged in Pakistan. Things are rolling and in the next three years we will have the full league in Pakistan,” he concluded.