KARACHI: Former Australia captain Aaron Finch heaped praise on Pakistan cricketers set to participate in the upcoming 15th edition of the Big Bash League (BBL), calling them “global superstars”, crucial for the country’s game.
A total of six national players are contracted for the tournament, including Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Rizwan and Hasan Ali.
The franchises, featuring the Pakistan cricketers, have been expressing excitement over the arrival of the overseas stars, with some creating special fan zones at their home grounds named after the players.
Meanwhile, Finch, who led Australia to their maiden ICC Men’s T20 World Cup glory in 2021, was evidently pleased by the prospects of Pakistani cricketers’ participation in the BBL, lauding them as superstars.
He further stressed international cricketers’ presence would help pass on the knowledge to emerging Australian players, calling it crucial for their progress.
“They’re not just Pakistan players, they’re Pakistan superstars, they’re global superstars. That’s so important to our game because they’re such great players,” Finch said during a podcast.
“I think that that is so important that that knowledge is passed on and that’s why having internationals is so crucial in our game,” he added.
Out of the six national cricketers, four will be making their respective BBL debuts, including star batter Babar, who was directly signed by Sydney Sixers ahead of the players’ draft.
The right-handed batter, who led Pakistan in three Men’s T20 World Cups, received a heroic welcome by the franchise, which also launched a special fan zone in October, titled “Babaristan” to celebrate the 31-year-old’s maiden stint in the BBL.
Finch specifically praised Babar, hailing him as one of the best players by citing his time playing against the star batter, claiming the former was almost impossible to dismiss.
“You’ve got one of the best players that I’ve ever played against. I played against Babar in Pakistan, and it was almost impossible to get him out,” Finch recalled.
“I know he’s been a little bit more quiet in the last 18 months, but he’s a world-beater at his very best,” he added.
Finch highlighted Mohammad Rizwan for his unique energy behind the stumps. The former skipper joked affectionately, “Mohammad Rizwan never shuts up behind the stumps, but seriously talented.”
Finch revealed that even Australia’s rising star Jake Fraser-McGurk has already learned from Rizwan within days of joining him.
“He was talking about what he’s learned off Rizwan already in the couple of days that he’s been here,” Finch noted, emphasising how valuable such exposure is for developing players.
“Mohammad Rizwan never shuts up behind the stumps, but seriously talented,” Finch said with evident admiration.
“I was talking to Jake Fraser-McGurk earlier at a shoot that we’re doing together, and I know we’re going to chat to him soon, but he was talking about what he’s learned off Rizwan already in the couple of days that he’s been here,” Finch explained.
“It’s incredible what it means, not for the players to be involved themselves, but for our players to learn as much as they can,” Finch added.
“You’ve got one of the best players that I’ve ever played against. I played against Babar in Pakistan, and it was almost impossible to get him out,” Finch recalled. “I know he’s been a little bit more quiet in the last 18 months, but he’s a world-beater at his very best.”
