6 Associate players franchises have chosen for IPL 2017 auction

Associate teams are being rewarded for their performances for their national side. They proved their caliber at the Desert T20 Challenge, and we have seen some stellar display by them in the World T20 as well. Some extraordinary batting, magnificent catches and power hitting- all making a favourable combination for a T20 League. IPL 2017 will see quite a few Associate players go under the hammer.

Afghanistan will enter the auction with the maximum number of players among the Associate teams. Apart from that,  there are one player from United Arab Emirates (UAE) is in the auction scheduled on 20th February. This will be the final year of IPL before the teams overhaul their squads for the next season to go under the hammer in a grand auction in 2018. So, this season is a good opportunity for the Associate players to make it big.

1. Mohammad Shahzad

The very popular Mohammad Shahzad is a natural starrer in the list and he will be the hottest pick among the five because he was in great form last month during the Desert T20 challenge. On 20th  January, during Desert T20, Shahzad became the first cricket player in history to score 2 half centuries in two separate international matches on the same day (80 against Oman and 52* against Ireland).

The added advantage is his work behind the stumps and the fact that he’s an opener who lofts the ball well. In 2016, he got the privilege of becoming the first Afghan to be named the ICC Associate & Affiliate Cricketer of the Year. Shahzad is currently ranked number 7 in the ICC T20 rankings. Does his perpetual attempt to pull something off like his idol MS Dhoni count as a benefit too?