Another 95+ mph pacer making rounds in Pakistan cricket

Pakistan have a rich history of producing brilliant pacers such as the great Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and others, and since the beginning of PSL, the country already found a good one in shape of Hasan Ali.

With the franchise base cricket growing rapidly in the country, new talent has now started to emerge on the scene through talent hunt programmes of Pakistan Super League (PSL) teams. Last year one of PSL franchise, Islamabad United, produced leg-spinner Shadab Khan, and now he is one of the key member of Pakistan team.

Similarly, Lahore Qalandars are currently conducting a talent hunt programme in Pakistan-administered Kashmir supervised by former Pakistan bowling Coach Aqib Javed. Around 35,000 aspiring cricketers appeared for trials during the programme.

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During the trials, a total of 17 players including fast bowler Salman Irshad who “constantly bowled at speed of 144kmph” were selected as part of the first phase of the Jazz Rising Stars programme.

The former Pakistan fast bowler and the Qalandars’ Director Cricket Operations Aaqib Javed was impressed with Salman and said he had the potential to represent Pakistan at the international level.

“I have set a target for him to increase his speed to 150 kph. The angle he creates will help him bowl well in the death overs,” Javed was quoted as saying by a Pakistani channel.

“I am hopeful that from the Lahore Qalandars platform we will give Pakistan its first cricketer from Azad Kashmir,” he said.

Salman has set his eyes on the Pakistan Super League already.

“I bowled at 144 kph after which Aaqib bhai announced that he would take me to the Lahore Qalandars camp and also make me play in the PSL. I will make Azad Kashmir and Pakistan proud,” he said.

It is pertinent to mention here that, the same franchise found a unique talent in shape of Yasir Jan, who can ball with both arms at an impressive speed of 140+ kph.

He is currently training at MCC academy at Lords.