Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan marked his return to T20 cricket with an impressive all-round performance on his Sydney Thunder debut in the Big Bash League (BBL), scoring 34 runs off 24 balls and claiming 2 wickets for 36 runs.
The performance marks a significant comeback for Shadab, who returns to T20 cricket after a seven-month break.
However, Sydney Thunder lost the match to Hobart Hurricanes by 4 wickets despite Shadab’s contributions with both bat and ball.
While Shadab delivered a strong debut, other Pakistani stars in the BBL have struggled to find their rhythm in the opening matches.
Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi endured a nightmare BBL debut on Monday when umpires stopped him from bowling after he delivered two beamers in his third over for Brisbane Heat.
The left-arm pacer struggled to control his line and length, conceding 43 runs in just 2.4 overs without taking a wicket before officials intervened.
Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam also had a bad start to his BBL campaign two days ago, scoring just 2 runs off 5 balls before losing his wicket against Brisbane Heat in his opening match for Sydney Thunder.
Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan on Monday, representing Melbourne Renegades, managed only 4 runs off 10 balls before getting dismissed in his debut.
Seven Pakistani players feature in this year’s BBL season: Shadab Khan (Sydney Thunder), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Brisbane Heat), Babar Azam (Sydney Thunder), Haris Rauf (Melbourne Stars), Mohammad Rizwan (Melbourne Renegades), Hasan Ali (Adelaide Strikers), and Usama Mir (Melbourne Renegades).
The Big Bash League runs across various venues in Australia, including Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Hobart, Brisbane, Canberra, and Geelong.
The tournament began on December 15, 2024, and will conclude with the final on January 27, 2025.
