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Shafiq's idol is Bumrah

Dubai - Shafiq was Man-of-the-Match for his 2-11 from his four overs for Multan Sultans

It is always said that sport and politics should never mix and another perfect illustration of that came during the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
After coming up with a Man-of-the-Match performance of 2-11 from his four overs for Multan Sultans against defending champions Islamabad United, young paced Ali Shafiq revealed that his idol is Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah.
Shafiq is a new face in the PSL and was playing his first match in the League. And coming in for Mohammad Ilyas, the 22-year-old showed that he is one for the future.
"My idol is Jasprit Bumrah," said Shafiq.
"He has done well in all three formats of the game," the debutant added.
Shafiq's tight bowling and his change of pace saw him dismiss Cameron Delport and Shadab Khan. Shafiq, who hails from Daska, near Sialkot, said it was massive for him to play in the PSL with Multan Sultans and also alongside Pakistan legend Shahid Afridi.
"It's a big thing for me to play with a team like Multan Sultans and with Shahid Afridi. It means a lot to me," said Shafiq, who turns out for Habib Bank Limited in Pakistan's domestic cricket.
Admirably, Pakistan continue to produce fast bowlers like a well-oiled supply line and along with Shafiq, another greenhorn has made his mark.
Haris Rauf's fired up spell of 4-23 saw the Karachi Kings wilt in Pakistan's ' El Clasico' against the Lahore Qalandars.
Like Shafiq, Rauf too is relatively new and has come the franchise's Player Development Programme after impressing at the trials in Gujranwala in 2017.
And Rauf credited former Pakistan pacer and Qalandars coach as well as the franchise do his rise from obscurity.
"The credit goes to Aaqib (Javed) bhai for motivating me and giving me confidence," said Rauf. "My target was to bowl straight and bowl to my strengths. My strengths are yorkers, bouncers and length balls," he added.
Rauf has the pace and he was fine tuned by Aaqib Javed at the academy. "Some of it (pace) I had naturally then Aaqib bhai worked on it a lot. He also sent me to Australia where I went and played. I played grade cricket and that helped me. Then, I played in Abu Dhabi and I performed there. I have been with Lahore Qalandars for a year and a half and have been part of their academy," he said.
Rauf plays grade cricket for Hawkesbury Cricket Club in Australia and interestingly, also bowled to Indian captain Virat Kohli on the eve of the Sydney Test. That must have surely helped Rauf.
james@khaleetimes.com