Srinagar: The young wicketkeeper batsman Azam Khan has become first cricketer from Pakistan to join cash rich UAE’s International League T20 (ILT20).
Azam, a son of former Pakistan legend Moin Khan has joined Desert Vipers. The franchise is owned by Lancer Capital, which owns the Manchester United team in the English Premier League.
Khan has so far played three T20Is and has represented Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators in the PSL, Galle Gladiators in Lanka Premier League and Barbados Royals in the CPL.
“Pakistan keeper-batter Azam Khan is an exciting addition to Desert Vipers! He is one of the world’s best players of spin in T20 cricket, averaging 35 with a strike rate of 160 against slower bowlers. Azam is ideally suited to attacking those middle overs for Desert Vipers (sic),” the franchise said, introducing him in a social media post.
The squad, with Tom Moody as the director of cricket and James Foster as head coach, has a host of English players with Sam Billings headlining the signings.
Desert Vipers Squad: Sam Billings (England), Sheldon Cottrell (West Indies), Tom Curran (England), Ben Duckett (England), Saqib Mahmood (England), Alex Hales (England), Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka), Benny Howell (England), Azam Khan (Pakistan), Sandeep Lamichhane (Nepal), Colin Munro (New Zealand), Sherfane Rutherford (West Indies) and Ruben Trumpelmann (Namibia).