Perth Scorchers rope in Pakistan's Usman Qadir for next edition's BBL

Perth Scorchers had an impressive outing in the 2017-18 edition Big Bash League (BBL). The team topped the league table with eight victories from ten matches. However, they lost to Hobart Hurricanes in the first semi-final by 71 runs and bowed out of the tournament. The upcoming season of the T20 event is set to take place from 19th December.

The Scorchers are scheduled to play their first match against Melbourne Renegades on December 20 at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne. In the meantime, the franchise has drafted in Pakistan cricketer Usman Qadir for the upcoming season as a backup for spin-bowling all-rounder Ashton Agar. Adam Voges, the Scorchers’ head coach updated about the same.

We will need some cover

“We are looking at some cover for Ashton Agar. We got found out in the semifinal last year when he was unavailable. We took the decision last year that our squad was strong enough not to need a second international, but with the success, we have had, and the number of guys who will be playing for Australia during the Big Bash period, we will need some cover,” Voges told the West Australian.

Usman, who happens to the son of legendary Pakistani leg-break bowler Abdul Qadir, has applied for Australian citizenship in order to boost his cricketing career. Usman has also been a part of the Lahore Qalandar in the Pakistan Super League but hasn’t played a single match in the event. He will fill the second international spot in the BBL franchise’s 18-man roster.

The 25-year-old met Voges yesterday in Perth. He has an experience of 13 T20s in which he has picked up 11 wickets to go with 88 runs. The Scorchers’ have also announced their new captain in the form of all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, replacing Voges, who retired from BBL cricket after last season.

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