Top 6 Pakistan-Origin Players To Go Up Against Pakistan In T20 World Cup 2024
Shayan Jahangir in action for USA prior to T20 World Cup 2024 (USA Cricket)
The Pakistan cricket team is set to enter the 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA as one of the leading contenders. The winners of the 2009 edition, and the runners-up of the tournament’s previous chapter in Australia, the current Pakistan setup boasts of a formidable line-up under the leadership of Babar Azam and a newly-formed support staff.
However, in their path towards a potential T20 World Cup glory, the ‘Men in Green’ first need to combat fellow heavyweights and perennial arch-rivals India. Moreover, the Pakistan team is also set to come across a number of Pakistan-origin players from other Group A nations like USA and Canada.
Here at OneCricket, we take a closer look at six standout Pakistan-origin cricketers who will go up against the Babar Azam-led team at the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Six Pakistan-Origin Players To Face Pakistan In 2024 T20 World Cup:
Saad Bin Zafar (Canada)
Saad Bin Zafar during a training session for Canada (x.com)
Canada captain Saad Bin Zafar was born in Gujranwala, Pakistan back in November 1986. Upon relocating to Canada, the cricketer has competed in prominent T20 franchise leagues like CPL as well as Global T20 Canada. The senior all-rounder has so far represented his nation in 39 T20I matches, tallying 272 runs at 22.66 and picking up 43 wickets with an economy rate of just 6.53. As Canada captain, Zafar is set to lead his team against Pakistan on June 11 in New York.
Junaid Siddiqui (Canada)
Junaid Siddiqui in action for Canada (x.com)
Karachi-born Junaid Siddiqui started out his cricketing journey in Mississauga through junior level cricket. The spin bowling all-rounder eventually earned his maiden international cap in August 2011 through an ODI against Afghanistan. So far, the 39-year-old has featured in nine ODIs and 20 T20I matches, and is currently in line to go up against Pakistan on June 11 at the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Kaleem Sana (Canada)
Kaleem Sana during the 2024 T20 World Cup (x.com)
Canada’s left-arm fast bowler Kaleem Sana was born in Rawalpindi and made his first-class debut during the 2008–09 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. Years after shifting to Canada, Sana made his international debut for his adopted nation in February 2022 against Philippines. The 30-year-old speedster has so far snapped 28 wickets from just 17 T20I innings for Canada at the international stage at an astonishing average of 13.25, and an impressive economy of less than six runs an over.
Shayan Jahangir (USA)
Shayan Jahangir in action against Bangladesh in May 2024 (USA Cricket)
USA wicketkeeper-batter Shayan Jahangir started out for Pakistan International Airlines in 2014. He even represented Pakistan Under-19 team for a number of youth one-day matches before shifting to USA for fresh opportunities. The cricketer has featured in CPL and MLC matches in West Indies and USA respectively, and is currently designated as the sole specialist wicketkeeper of his nation at the 2024 T20 World Cup. While he has only featured in one T20I for the USA, he might well find a place in the playing XI for his team’s upcoming Group A match against Pakistan.
Ali Khan (USA)
Ali Khan in action for USA (USA Cricket)
Born in Pakistan’s Punjab region, Ali Khan’s family settled in Ohio when he was 19 years of age. Having played in CPL, BPL, PSL and for ICC Americas; the speedster bagged his maiden ODI cap in 2019 and his first T20I match in November 2021. Known for his tearaway pace and accuracy, Ali Khan has picked up 10 wickets in nine T20Is for USA and was one of the cogent forces in their recent series win over a strong Bangladesh unit.
Yasir Mohammad (USA)
Yasir Mohammad in action for USA (x.com)
Yasir Mohammad was born in New Jersey, USA to a Pakistani immigrant family in October 2002. He is currently in the USA cricket team as one of the standby players for the 2024 T20 World Cup. The 21-year-old made his T20I debut back in July 2022.
Apart from the aforementioned cricketers from Group A teams like Canada and USA, here is a list of Pakistan-origin players from other nations who can potentially meet Pakistan later at the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Other Pakistan-origin players at the 2024 T20 World Cup:
| Player | Country |
|---|---|
| Aqib Ilyas | Oman |
| Bilal Khan | Oman |
| Zeeshan Maqsood | Oman |
| Naseem Khushi | Oman |
| Mehran Khan | Oman |
| Mohammad Nadeem | Oman |
| Fayyaz Butt | Oman |
| Kaleemullah | Oman |
| Riazat Ali Shah | Uganda |
| Bilal Hassan | Uganda |
| Saqib Zulfiqar | Netherlands |
| Safyaan Sharif | Scotland |
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