PSL 10: Sahibzada Farhan aims for permanent spot in national team

Islamabad United’s opening batter, Sahibzada Farhan, has expressed his determination to transfer his impressive performances in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and National T20 Cup into international cricket.

In a conversation a local news channel, the 29-year-old cricketer clarified that his goal is not just to make a comeback to the national team but to secure a permanent place in the squad. He stated, “My aim is not just to play a couple of matches and make a comeback. Whenever I return to the national team, I want to make a permanent spot for myself and play for a long period.”

Sahibzada Farhan had an outstanding performance in the last National T20 Cup, scoring 605 runs in 7 innings, which included 3 centuries and 2 half-centuries. His stellar performance in the domestic tournament played a key role in him securing a place in Islamabad United after being overlooked in the PSL draft.

Farhan revealed that his initial century in the National T20 Cup boosted his confidence, saying, “My goal was to perform well in the tournament and attract the attention of PSL teams.”

Rejecting the perception of being just a domestic performer, he emphasized, “People used to say that I only score runs in domestic tournaments, but my performance in PSL should be enough to silence them because PSL is a top-tier league, and performances here carry immense value.”

Acknowledging the challenges of making a place as an opener in the national team, Farhan pointed out the abundance of talented openers in the squad. However, he stressed that players should not be judged solely on the basis of two or three matches; consistent chances and performance are key to securing a spot in the team.

Farhan also expressed his ambition to score more centuries in PSL, stating, “My aim is to score at least one or two more centuries this PSL so I can break the record for the most centuries in a year. I don’t settle after one or two innings; I want to play an important role in helping my team win.”

Acknowledging the pressure of international cricket, Farhan mentioned that he has prepared himself for the challenge and is focusing solely on his performance.