Azam Khan becomes first Pakistan player to join UAE's ILT20

The 24-year-old is among the overseas players recruited by Desert Vipers, owned by Lancer Capital, which also owns the Manchester United team in the English Premier League

PHOTO: Twitter/AFP

Wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan has become the first Pakistan player to be signed for UAE's International League T20 (ILT20).

The 24-year-old is among the overseas players recruited by Desert Vipers. The franchise is owned by Lancer Capital, which owns the Manchester United team in the English Premier League. He is first Pakistan signing in the ILT20 which has five other franchises, all owned by the Indians.

Moin Khan's son has so far played three T20Is and has represented Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators in the PSL, Galle Gladiators in Lanka Premier League and Barbados Royals in the CPL.

Pakistan🇵🇰 keeper-batter Azam Khan is an exciting addition to Desert Vipers!

He is one of the world’s best players of spin in T20 cricket, averaging 35 with a strike rate of 160 against slower bowlers - Azam is ideally suited to attacking those middle overs for #DesertVipers. pic.twitter.com/hZ0Uica2Zv
— Desert Vipers (@TheDesertVipers) August 19, 2022

"Pakistan keeper-batter Azam Khan is an exciting addition to Desert Vipers! He is one of the world's best players of spin in T20 cricket, averaging 35 with a strike rate of 160 against slower bowlers. Azam is ideally suited to attacking those middle overs for Desert Vipers (sic)," the franchise said, introducing him in a social media post.

The squad, with Tom Moody as the director of cricket and James Foster as head coach, has a host of English players with Sam Billings headlining the signings.

Among other signings are Sheldon Cottrell (West Indies), Tom Curran (England), Ben Duckett (England), Alex Hales (England), Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka) and Benny Howell (England).

Desert Vipers Squad: Sam Billings (England), Sheldon Cottrell (West Indies), Tom Curran (England), Ben Duckett (England), Saqib Mahmood (England), Alex Hales (England), Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka), Benny Howell (England), Azam Khan (Pakistan), Sandeep Lamichhane (Nepal), Colin Munro (New Zealand), Sherfane Rutherford (West Indies) and Ruben Trumpelmann (Namibia).