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Shaheen’s replacement? Musa Khan’s 6/51 puts Pakistan pacer in T20 World Cup frame

Soumyajit Dutta

Shaheen Afridi and Musa Khan with Wasim Akram [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/X]Shaheen Afridi and Musa Khan with Wasim Akram [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/X]

A superb all-round bowling performance from Muhammad Musa Khan, who claimed eight wickets in the President’s Trophy Grade-I 2025-26, boasting figures of 6/51 and 2/32, propelled Pakistan Television (PTV) to a 78-run victory over State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

The win launched the defending champions' President’s Trophy campaign, placing them joint-second on the points table after the first round. However, what’s more compelling is the arc of the 25-year-old Musa Khan, who now stands as a strong contender for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026.

PTV stages comeback as Musa Khan happy with efforts

PTV staged a remarkable comeback after being dismissed for just 99 in their first innings, overcoming a deficit to set a 240-run target. SBP, resuming their chase at 148-8, were quickly bowled out for 161 on the fourth morning.

Musa Khan, named player of the match, reflected on the team's effort. “We made a comeback in the game after falling flat for 99 in first innings and overcame a 54-run first innings deficit to set a 240-run target for SBP,” Khan told the media.

The victory gives PTV 23 points, tying them with WAPDA and Ghani Glass. Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) lead the table with 30 points. The tournament's second round begins on January 3, with all matches in Karachi being streamed live on Tapmad in Pakistan and the PCB YouTube channel internationally.

Why Musa Khan will be a great replacement for Shaheen Afridi

Musa Khan’s emergence is a strong show for Pakistan as the scary injury of Shaheen Afridi suffered during a BBL 15 game, ruled him out of the tournament. As the knee injury bars him from playing next few matches, if it's nasty enough, it will make him sit out for the T20 World Cup too.

Hence, the young promise, Musa Khan, who is known for his whipping action and constant bowling speed of over 140 kph can be one of the perfect replacement options for the bowling star. Notably, Musa also has international experience as he made his debut for the side in 2019.

Musa Khan has played 2 T20Is and 2 ODIs earlier for Pakistan and has 62 wickets from 54 T20 games in domestic cricket. Moreover, he is also a handy batter that adds to his potential in the game, especially after his record performance in the recent domestic clash.