Islamabad United has always focused to provide players who play for the national side in the near future. The aim is to provide a platform for the youngsters to express themselves in the PSL and then go on to play for Pakistan. Rumman Raees and Shadab Khan have been two such players who have come through Islamabad United and have made their debuts for Pakistan.
The focus on young players who could do well for Pakistan in the future has done some good for the side and this has been reflected in their picks with the Islamabad United not afraid to pick two emerging players in the playing 11 knowing that they are more than capable to deliver for the team when needed.
This year the trend continues with Hussain Talat, who is in the frame for a call-up to the Pakistan national side for the West Indies series and Faheem Ashraf, who has shown that he can deliver with both the bat and the ball.
Faheem Ashraf was the star with the ball today picking three wickets — Kevin Pietersen, Anwar Ali and Hasan Khan — for just 19 while conceding just a single 6 in his 4 over spell. With injuries to Andre Russell and Rumman Raees, it is nice to see a newcomer step up and take responsibility for his side. Faheem has done that with ease, in the opening game of the season he showed what he could do with the bat with 54 runs in 30 balls and in this game what he can do with the ball.
Faheem Ashraf has shown significant improvement in his bowling as well, his bowling average prior to the PSL was 29 runs per wicket at 8.24 runs per over. But with Islamabad United, his bowling average is 14.13 runs per wicket at 7.31 runs per over, a significant improvement and the hope is that he can keep performing at this level and only improve.
Hussain Talat, who has been with Islamabad United from the first season but made his debut last year has shown his ability with the bat, last year he made his debut for Islamabad United in a must-win game against Quetta Gladiators and scored 56 runs in 39 balls in a game which Islamabad won by one run. He was thrown into the deep end and came back with a strong performance.
Although the average age of Islamabad United might be on the higher end, the mix of youngsters and experienced players means that the youngsters get to learn a lot from their experienced colleagues and it has shown as Hussain Talat has improved his game far more this season.
Walking in with 64 runs needed to win in 8 overs, Talat ensured that the game was over quick by scoring 28 runs in 17 balls at one stage scoring 24 runs in 10 balls. That quick inning was enough to kill the chase and hand Islamabad their 6th consecutive win this season and secure a top-two finish. Talat has been one the 3rd highest scorer for Islamabad United this season with 193 runs and the fourth quickest scorer (8.27 RPO), in just his second year for the franchise.
The fact that Faheem Ashraf the top wicket-taker (15 wickets) and Hussain Talat have stepped up for Islamabad United in the absence of their star players Rumman Raees and Andre Russell speaks volume about how capable the youngsters are for the side and what they can provide for Pakistan in the coming years, shows how bright the future is for Pakistan cricket.