Young Pakistani pacer Ihsanullah has been making headlines lately, but not for the reasons cricket fans might hope.
The 22-year-old speedster, who burst onto the scene with his fiery pace in PSL 8, recently found himself at the centre of controversy after making some impulsive statements.
In a dramatic turn of events, Ihsanullah first announced his boycott of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) after going unpicked in the PSL 10 draft. Hours later, he reversed his decision, calling it an emotional outburst.
A Decision Fueled by Frustration
Ihsanullah, who took 22 wickets in PSL 8 with an impressive average of 15.77, was understandably disappointed when no team showed interest in him during this year’s draft.
Speaking to a local media outlet, Ihsanullah admitted that his decision to retire was made in the heat of the moment.
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“I was irked by the reactions of the masses and my family,” Ihsanullah shared. “The franchises didn’t pick me, and I reacted emotionally. It was wrong of me to make such a decision.”
He reassured fans that he has no plans to retire from the PSL. Instead, he is focused on working hard to prove himself.
The Comeback Plan
Ihsanullah sounded optimistic as he spoke about the road ahead. With four months to go until PSL 10, he believes there’s still time to make an impression.
“By the will of Almighty Allah, those who didn’t pick me this time will pick me later,” he said confidently. “There are domestic tournaments coming up, and I’ll use them to improve and make my fans happy.”
Addressing Concerns About Pace
Another talking point surrounding Ihsanullah has been his bowling speed. Known for clocking over 140 kmph during PSL 8, questions arose about whether he could maintain that pace.
The pacer explained that he’s been consistently bowling at 130-135 kmph in domestic matches, adding that the speed gun readings on TV often show slightly higher numbers.
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“Just the other day, I bowled at 142 kmph during a match in Peshawar,” he said. “I’ll keep working to improve my pace and performance.”
An Apology to Franchises
Acknowledging his misstep, Ihsanullah extended an apology to PSL franchises for his earlier statement.
“I shouldn’t have made that decision in anger,” he admitted. “I’m sorry to the franchises and the fans. I’ll use this as a learning experience to handle such situations better in the future.”
Despite the setbacks, Ihsanullah remains grateful for the opportunities provided by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). “Cricket is my passion, and I thank the PCB for giving me a platform to showcase my talent,” he said.
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