The 2017 IPL will witness as many as nine players from associate nations for the auctions scheduled to be held on the 20th of this month. Interestingly, Ireland have only two players up for grabs while Afghanistan, quickly moving towards a Test status, have as many as five.
The dynamic opening batsman, Mohammad Shahzad, experienced all-rounders, Mohammad Nabi and Najibullah Zadran, fast bowler Dawlat Zadran and 18-year-old leg-spinner, Rashid Khan, are the five from Afghanistan who will be placed for auction.
Associate players have rarely found favour in the IPL auctions. Ryan Ten Doeschate from Netherlands for Kolkata Knight Riders is the only one to have got some reasonable game time with any franchise. But the availability of Afghanistan players should attract a lot more attention.
They impressed Indians with a good show in the World T20, where they beat eventual champions, West Indies, in the group stages. They have some experienced cricketers who can go hammer and tongs in this format. Here we take a look at IPL teams who might be interested in each of these five cricketers.
#5 Royal Challengers Bangalore - Dawlat Zadran
Royal Challengers Bangalore would be keen in grabbing any decent fast bowler available in the auctions. They have a superb batting line-up but don’t possess the bowling to scare the opposition. While they would have had their eyes set on Ishant Sharma, a base price of Rs. 2 crore would have dented their plans to purchase the Indian fast bowler.
Dawlat Zadran is a skiddy fast bowler and with the short boundaries of the Chinnaswamy Stadium, RCB could use a tricky customer like him. His zip and pace could be a bonus for the Bangalore franchise and coupled with his low base price, Zadran is an attractive package.
Zadran has 39 wickets in 32 T20Is for Afghanistan at a superb average of 23.58 and economy of 7.86. In the Asia Cup in 2014, Zadran pushed the speed gun up to 145kmph, a rarity for players from the associate nations. He is also a handy lower order hitter.
#4 Gujarat Lions - Mohammad Nabi
Gujarat Lions have a pretty settled top order in Brendon McCullum, Aaron Finch, Dwyane Smith and Suresh Raina. But they lack the firepower down the order with Dinesh Karthik, more of a rotator, and Dwyane Bravo not anymore the batsman he once was.
Mohammad Nabi, the Afghanistan all-rounder could be a perfect fit in the Gujarat Lions line-up. Possessing vast experience, the spinning all-rounder is a handy hitter of the cricket ball and is pretty tidy with his off-spin.
Nabi has 704 runs from 52 T20I matches for Afghanistan and has 56 wickets at an average of 23.30. What might attract Gujarat more is his economy which stands at just 6.96, exceptional by T20 standards. He has played in England, Pakistan and Bangladesh and figured in 3 World T20s for Afghanistan.
#3 Delhi Daredevils - Najibullah Zadran
The left-handed batsman from Afghanistan, Najibullah Zadran, could be a right fit in the Delhi line-up with his ability to smoke the cricket ball a long way. Although Delhi possess some quality T20 players, they do not have someone in the lower middle order capable of playing a cameo.
His innovative batting style could be a bonus for Delhi in the lower order and he could form a potentially dangerous death over combination with JP Duminy. He made his ODI debut in 2012 but it was two years later that he really established himself in the Afghanistan team.
Zadran's T20 average is among the best in the World at 38.12. Combined with a strike rate of over 150 and ability to clear the fence with ease as evident from the 34 sixes he has in 34 matches, Zadran packs quite a punch.
#2 Rising Pune Supergiants - Mohammad Shahzad
Rising Pune Supergiants have off-loaded Kevin Pietersen, Albie Morkel and George Bailey, and are in dire need of a heavy hitter at the top of the order. The likes of Ajinkya Rahane, Steven Smith and Faf du Plessis are not exactly players who can take the game away in the powerplay overs with lofted shots.
This is where someone like Mohammad Shahzad could be a perfect fit at the top. A burly batsman, Shahzad is a bully of the cricket ball and possesses great temperament and experience.
He has 1656 runs for Afghanistan in T20Is in 55 matches at an average of 31.84. The Afghan batsman also has a century to his name along with eleven fifties and boasts of a strike rate of 136.63. Shahzad is also a wicket-keeper but Pune may not need that skill from him with Dhoni skippering the side.
#1 Sunrisers Hyderabad - Rashid Khan
Sunrisers Hyderabad won the 2016 IPL with Karn Sharma and Bipul Sharma as the only spin bowling options. The form has been released around and the latter isn't someone who inspires a lot of confidence.
With T20s largely becoming a format made for wrist spinners, Hyderabad have none to bank on. This is where someone like Rashid Khan could bring in much-needed variety. At 18 years of age, Rashid Khan is already among the top five ranked bowlers in ICC T20 bowlers' rankings.
He has 31 wickets from 21 matches at a spectacular economy rate of 6.14. His bowling average of 16.6 in the format is also eye catching. Hyderabad could use the services of Rashid Khan in 2017.
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