A young and aspiring fast bowler from Pakistan Administered Kashmir has impressed selectors with his pace and line at Lahore Qalandars’ Jazz Rising Stars trials.
Salman Irshad, who hails from Rawalakot and was discovered during the first phase of the franchise’s talent development trials in Pakistan Administered Kashmir, consistently bowls at 144kph and has already caught the attention of Lahore Qalandars director Aaqib Javed, Geo Tv reported.
Impressed with the youngster’s raw pace, Javed praised Salman for his unique bowling angle which he said fell somewhere between that of bowling legend Waqar Younis and Lasith Malinga of Sri Lanka.
The director pointed out that Salman had bowled at 144 kph consistently but lacked experience and exposure at this level, and vowed to hone his skills further.
“I have set a target for him to increase his speed to 150 kph. The angle he creates will help him bowl well in the death overs,” said Javed.
Javed said the youngster was being called to the Lahore Qalandars academy, where he will receive training.
“I am hopeful that from the Lahore Qalandars platform we will give Pakistan its first cricketer from Azad Kashmir,” the director vowed.
Salman, speaking to Geo News at the end of the trials, said he has his eyes on the Pakistan Super League already.
“I bowled at 144 kph after which Aaqib bhai announced that he would take me to the Lahore Qalandars camp and also make me play in the PSL. I will make Pakistan Kashmir and Pakistan proud,” he said.
The next stop of Jazz Rising Stars will be Rawalpindi on September 4 and 5.
This is the second edition of Rising Stars program by Lahore Qalandars. Last year, over 113,000 players appeared in trials across eight cities of Punjab.
Of them, after appearing at different stages 15 players were sent to Australia for further experience, while four of them were picked for Qalandars’ PSL side.
