In a significant move for UAE's ILT20 cricket league, star Pakistani left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi has inked a three-year deal with Desert Vipers. This historic signing will see Afridi become the inaugural Pakistani player to showcase his talent in the league, starting January next year.
Expressing his excitement, Afridi remarked, "I am excited to join the Desert Vipers. I know there are many Pakistan cricket fans in the UAE and I hope they will support our team in the upcoming ILT20."
The ILT20's upcoming season is slated to kick off on January 13. Following his professional commitments in Australia, Afridi is expected to integrate with the Vipers' squad.
It's worth noting that Desert Vipers endeavored to onboard Pakistani players in the past season. These pursuits, however, remained unfruitful. The team had previously roped in Azam Khan, eyeing to introduce him as the pioneering Pakistani cricketer in ILT20. However, a roadblock emerged when the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) withheld the necessary no-objection certificate, thereby preventing his participation in the league.
A noticeable shift in the PCB's stance is evident under the leadership of its current chairman, Zaka Ashraf. He seems to favor granting permissions to players for their involvement in different T20 leagues across the globe.
Extolling Afridi's cricketing prowess, Tom Moody, the Vipers' director of cricket, shared, "Shaheen is undeniably a player of world-class calibre who has had a significant impact not only for Pakistan but for every team he's played for in recent times."
Moody further added, "He offers a huge amount as an impact pace bowler that has destroyed many, many top-orders and he also boasts terrific leadership skills that will add a huge amount of value to the Desert Vipers moving forward."
Afridi is set to bolster the Vipers' bowling department, which boasts stalwarts like Wanindu Hasaranga, Matheesha Pathirana, Tom Curran, and Sheldon Cottrell.
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