Pakistani star Shadab Khan has been signed by the Sydney Sixers for the ongoing 11th season of the Big Bash League (BBL).
Now Shadab is the fifth Pakistani player to be signed by the BBL Franchise as Haris Rauf, Ahmed Danyal, and Syed Fardioun have all been signed by Melbourne Stars and Mohammad Hasnain will wear the colors of the Sydney Thunder.
Earlier, the all-rounder appeared in the BBL back in the seventh round of the Brisbaine Heat tournament, where he played three games and won six wickets. He also made useful offerings with the bat.
The Sydney Sixers are in with a chance of extending their winning streak to the tournament as they have registered four of the five games, and have identified Shadab as their potential winner.
Shadab will return to Pakistan ahead of the seventh match of the Pakistan Super League and this catch during BBL will help him prepare for the tournament. In addition, this will also allow him to adjust to the conditions before Pakistan's trip to Australia in 2023.
Shadab will be there all season including the injured Sixers, who lost Ben Manenti to a neck injury that ended the season and key player Steve O'Keefe is currently out of action due to calf pressure.
They were also left stranded at the pace of the ranks as England's Tom Curran returned home with a back injury and Chris Jordan reached the final five games. For better news, former Australian fashion designer Jackson Bird is expected to return soon and play for the first time in the BBL season as he recovers from Achilles' injury.
Famous for his ability to turn the ball around badly, Shadab will add momentum and phase to the Sixers' attack as they chase a historic hat-trick for BBL titles. He returns to the BBL after three short games with the Brisbane Heat for the 2017-18 season.
He excelled in the recent T20 World Cup with nine wickets in six matches, including 4 of 26 against Australian champions in the semi-finals. Shadab, however, did not get a wicket in his last two T20Is against the West Indies earlier this month.
A useful low-key batter, Shadab made an average of 18.33 with a strike rate of 136.81 from 64 T20Is and has scored three years in his Six Test career.
Shadab is the fifth Pakistani to sign for the BBL this season and joins three Melbourne Stars Haris Rauf, Sued Faridoun and Ahmad Daniyal, and Mohammad Hasnain of Sydney Thunder.
Sixers coach Greg Shipperd said the team now boasts of three young spinners and Lloyd Pope and Todd Murphy are also part of the ranks.
"All three of these young men are still learning their craft but have shown at different levels that they can be world class," he said. "We welcome Shadab's prowess in all three stages of the game and look forward to seeing him get a chance in the upcoming games."
Despite suffering serious injuries, the Sixers sit second on the BBL ladder with their next match against rival Thunder - called 'Sydney Smash' - on December 26 at the Sydney Showgrounds.
Best of luck Shadab Khan in reminder upcoming matches Bbl 11.
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