Former Pakistan head coach Jason Gillespie has once again praised the young batter Muhammad Irfan Khan, strongly recommending T20 franchises worldwide to snap the youngster up. Gillespie called the young all-rounder a quality player and outstanding person who is destined for a long career with Pakistan.
The former Australian international made his feelings known after Irfan’s sensational knock against Nepal during the recently concluded Top End T20 Series, where the 22-year-old was captaining the Shaheens.
“He will be a long-term player for Pakistan. The T20 leagues will come calling. I would recommend him to any franchise or team,” Gillespie commented on a social media post highlighting Irfan Khan’s 42-run contribution in the Shaheens’ narrow win before the semifinals.
While his team fell in the semifinals to eventual champions Perth Scorchers Academy, Irfan Khan Niazi had a decent outing in Australia with the bat. He scored 127 runs in six innings at an average of 24, often coming out to bat when his team was under pressure. His impressive 130.90 strike rate was only behind a select few names as well, underlining his abilities with the bat.
This isn’t the first time Jason Gillespie has gone out of his way to praise Irfan Khan’s talent. He openly criticised his former employers after Irfan was left out of Pakistan’s Champions Trophy squad. However, with 23 appearances for the senior side and the captaincy of the Shaheens, the PCB’s plans for him are clear.
With more and more Pakistani cricketers making their mark in global T20 tournaments, Gillespie’s endorsement could open doors for Irfan Khan to take his talent beyond national duty and onto some of the sport’s biggest stages, which should only help his career in the long run.