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Former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar is considered one of the most lethal pacers country has ever produced. Akhtar still holds the record for the fastest ball ever recorded in international cricket. Many have aspired to break the record but have fallen short of it. Now, 20-year-old Pakistan pacer Ihsanullah wants to follow the footsteps of the legend even though his cricketing idol is Waqar Younis.
"My idol was Waqar bhai. I used to watch Shoaib bhai's videos a lot. He hit everyone on the head and broke the stumps. So, I tried to replicate him," Ihsanullah was quoted as saying in a video posted by Pakistan Cricket's Twitter handle.
On April 2019, Ihsanullah made his ODI debut at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in the second ODI of five-ODI series. He replaced Shaheen Shah Afridi who handed him his ODI cap.
Last month, Ihsanullah made his T20I debut against Afghanistan. He picked up two wickets on his T20I debut. So far, he has taken six wickets from four T20Is. Also, he has a commendable economy rate of 7.28 runs per over. However, he did not fare well on his ODI debut. In the eight overs he bowled, he conceded 60 runs and remained wicketless.
Ihsanullah earned a place in the Pakistan side on the back of consistent performances in Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2023. Playing for Multan Sultans, he picked up 22 wickets from 12 games at an average of 15.77 and an economy rate of 7.64 runs per over. He was the second-highest wicket-taker of the season.
Ihsanullah had humble beginnings and there was a point when his father wanted him to leave the country and work as a labourer.
"My home's condition was very bad. So my father told me to go to UAE and work as a labourer as cricket wasn't happening. I replied 'I want to play cricket, I want to play and will show you'. So now he is very happy," he said.
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