Published: Sep 10, 2018, 01:17 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 10, 2018, 01:17 PM (IST)
Usman Qadir, son of former Pakistan legspinner Abdul Qadir, has signed with Perth Scorchers for the 2018-19 Big Bash League (BBL) as cover for Ashton Agar.
Qadir, also a legspinner, is the second overseas signing for Perth Scorchers alongside England left-arm quick David Willey. The Perth management took the decision to sign Sydney-based Qadir with an eye on Agar’s potential international assignments with Australia over the home summer.
“We are looking at some cover for Ashton Agar,” the new Scorchers coach Adam Voges told the West Australian.”We got found out in the semi-final 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.”
Qadir, who played for Pakistan Under-19s at the 2010 and 2012 junior World Cups, moved to Australia in 2017 citing a lack of opportunities in the country of his birth and played New South Wales Premier Cricket last season. Earlier this year, he stated his intent to represent Australia at the ICC World T20.
“My goal is clear – I plan to represent Australia in the World Twenty20 in 2020 in Australia,” the 26-year-old had said. ”I wish to use the same process of acquiring the ‘Distinguished Talent Visa’, which Fawad Ahmed also used to allow him to play for Australia. This visa allows any talented sportsman to gain permanent residency in Australia and this is the path I wish to follow as well.”
Qadir’s last first-class match was in December 2014. In March 2017, he played two games for Lahore Qalandars in the Emirates Airline Twenty20 Trophy in Dubai. In 13 career T20 games, the legspinner has taken 11 wickets with a best of 2/15.
