PSL 2020: Shane Watson names the toughest Pakistan bowler he has faced in the nets

Shane Watson, the former Australian all-rounder, has revealed Mohammad Hasnain as the toughest Pakistan bowler he has faced in the nets. Hasnain plays alongside Watson for the Quetta Gladiators, the defending champions in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Last season, it was Hasnain’s three-wicket that helped his side to an eight-wicket victory against the Peshawar Zalmi in the Final.

Soon after, Hasnain got his maiden national call-up during the home series against Australia where he made his debut in Sharjah. Then he was also picked in the 2019 World Cup squad, though he didn’t to play a single game despite Pakistan’s lacklustre run. But Hasnain managed to earn a CPL contract for the Trinbago Knight Riders and has played quite some games of late for Pakistan.

Hasnain bowls at a sharp pace and that seemed to have ruffled the very experienced Watson to quite a large extent. “Last year facing Hasnain in the nets was not comfortable at all,” Watson was quoted as saying in Pak Passion. Hasnain was one of the star performers for the Gladiators last season. The speedster picked 12 wickets in seven games at an average of 17.58.

Watson set for PSL stint

Watson has been one of the fulcrums for the Gladiators over the years. In the last season, he earned the Player of the Series award for being the leading run-scorer of the tournament. The right-hander managed 430 runs in 12 matches at an average and strike-rate of 43 and 143.81 respectively. Watson also turned up with four-half centuries with a top score of 91* against the Zalmi itself.

The Queenslander scored couldn’t big in the Final though. Moreover, Watson is the second-highest run-scorer in the history of the PSL, having amassed 1114 runs in 37 games with seven fifties. Apart from the Gladiators, the 38-year-old has also plied his trade for the Islamabad United.

For the upcoming season, he has already reached Pakistan. The Gladiators, led by Sarfaraz Ahmed, are scheduled to play their opening match against the United, captained by Shadab Khan, on February 20 at the National Stadium in Karachi. Watson recently played for the Rangpur Rangers in the BPL and prior to that, represented the Deccan Gladiators in the Abu Dhabi T10 League.