Ihsanullah (born 11 October 2002) is a Pakistani cricketer who plays as a right-arm fast bowler. Nicknamed the Matta Express, he is one of the fastest bowlers in the current Pakistan cricket team.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 11 October 2002 Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan |
| Nickname | Matta Express[1] |
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (196 cm)[2][3] |
| Batting | Right-handed |
| Bowling | Right-arm fast |
| Role | Bowler |
| International information | |
| National side |
|
| Only ODI (cap 241) | 29 April 2023 v New Zealand |
| T20I debut (cap 100) | 24 March 2023 v Afghanistan |
| Last T20I | 27 March 2023 v Afghanistan |
| T20I shirt no. | 52 |
| Domestic team information | |
| Years | Team |
| 2022–present | Multan Sultans (squad no. 50) |
| 2023-2023 | Khyber Paktunkhwa (squad no. 100) |
Source: Cricinfo, 4 May 2023 | |
Early career
editIhsanullah was born in the Arkot village, situated in the Swat Valley's Matta Tehsil, losing his home during the 2022 floods, while he began his professional cricket career in 2017, playing for FATA Under-16, in 2018 taking part in PCB's U-16 Pentangular T20 Tournament.[4]
Domestic and franchise career
editIn January 2022, Ihsanullah made his Twenty20 debut,[5] after being named as one of the local players for Multan Sultans in the draft for the 2022 PSL.[6]
In September 2022, he made his first-class debut for Khyber Paktunkhwa, becoming the team's highest wicket-tacker for the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy in the 2022-23 season while also being the second highest wicket-taker in the Pakistan ODI Cup for 2022-23.[7]
In February 2023, he was noticed for delivering the second-best spell of the Pakistan Super League with a figures of 5-12 against Quetta Gladiators, while playing for Multan Sultans for the 2023 PSL. His spell is also considered the fastest in PSL's history, with an average speed of 144.37 kph and a delivery going over 154.5 kph, surpassing Haris Rauf's spell against Peshawar Zalmi during the 2022 PSL, when his average speed was 144.16 kph.[8]
In March 2023, at the end of the 2023 PSL, he won both the HBL PSL 8 Player of the Tournament award as well the Bowler of HBL PSL 8 award, for his 22 wickets at an economy-rate of 7.59.[9]
International career
editIn December 2022, alongside batsmen Saim Ayub and Haseebullah Khan, Ihsanullah was one of the three youngsters selected to be included in the national squad for the second Test match of the New Zealand series in Karachi, so they could get some international exposure and see the dynamics of the dressing room.[10]
In March 2023, he was named in Pakistan's Twenty20 International (T20I) squad for the series against Afghanistan.[11] He made his T20I debut in the first T20I of the series, on 24 March 2023.[12] In the match, he took a wicket with his first delivery.[13]
In April 2023, he was named in Pakistan's One Day International (ODI) squad for the series against New Zealand.[14] He made his ODI debut in the second ODI of the series, on 29 April 2023.[15]
References
edit- ^ Dwivedi, Sandeep (19 March 2023). "Ihsanullah: The boy from Swat in Pakistan who's hit stardom at the speed of 152.65 kph". The Indian Express.
In one of the many interviews, the Matta Express – that's the working title his fans have given him [...]
- ^ "Ehsanullah stuns selectors with his pace deliveries". The News International. 8 December 2021.
Kamyab Jawan Sports Drive got instant success as six feet five inches tall Ehsanullah [...]
- ^ "Ramiz Raja reveals Ihsanullah's unique skill as pacer". Cricket Pakistan. 29 March 2023.
"Ihsanullah is a great find. He is as tall as 6'5".
- ^ Farooq, Umar (17 February 2023). "Ihsanullah, the young speedster who has taken the PSL by storm". CricInfo.
- ^ "Full Scorecard of Kings vs Sultans 1st Match 2021/22 - Score Report | ESPNcricinfo.com". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
- ^ "HBL Pakistan Super League". www.psl-t20.com. Archived from the original on 28 January 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
- ^ Vijaykumar, Ajit (17 February 2023). "Ihsanullah: Pakistan's latest pace sensation to emerge from PSL". The National.
He made his first-class debut last September after making his PSL bow earlier in January. In all, he has played just seven first-class matches, 11 one-day and 10 T20 games but has left a serious impression in all three. He is the highest wicket-taker for KP in the first-class Quaid-e-Azam trophy in the 2022-23 season with 22 wickets from seven games. He is also the second highest wicket-taker in the Pakistan ODI Cup for 2022-23 with 25 scalps.
- ^ "Ihsanullah bowls fastest spell in PSL history". Cricket Pakistan. 15 February 2023.
- ^ "Ihsanullah named Player of HBL PSL 8 as Multan Sultans sweep awards". Pakistan Cricket Board. 18 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
- ^ Lakhani, Faizan (31 December 2022). "Three youngsters to be inducted to Pak squad for second Test against NZ". The News International.
- ^ "Pakistan name new captain for Afghanistan T20Is". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
- ^ "1st T20I (N), Sharjah, March 24, 2023, Afghanistan v Pakistan". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- ^ "Afghanistan's bowlers script their first-ever win over Pakistan". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- ^ "Shaheen Shah Afridi set to return to international cricket". Pakistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
- ^ "2nd ODI (D/N), Rawalpindi, April 29, 2023, New Zealand tour of Pakistan". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 29 April 2023.