BBL 2019-20: 5 Fresh faces to watch out for in the tournament

The Big Bash League (BBL) down under is one of the most entertaining T20 leagues among the many around the cricket globe. The Australian domestic T20 competition was revolutionized in the year 2011 from six state-based teams to eight city-oriented franchises.

The upcoming season of this men’s tournament will see the number of matches increased from 59 to 61. It is mainly done after the knockout format was revamped to help the top two teams get a second chance to make it to the last hurdle. The play-off system will consist of The Eliminator, The Qualifier, The Challenger followed by the final.

The tournament commencing from 17th of December has also acted as the ideal launchpad for several cricketers to set in motion their international careers. With the T20 World Cup set to be contested the forthcoming year in Australia, men from several nations would compete hard to remain in the spotlight throughout.

We look at five fresh faces from the upcoming BBL tournament to watch out for:-

Zahir Khan

The 20-year old is the latest addition to the wealth of spin bowlers that Afghanistan boasts of alongside Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Mohammad Nabi. It couldn’t be long before he finds success at the highest level, joining the rare crop of bowlers, who bring in the X-factor, being a chinaman. 

The youngster has undergone a meteoric rise. From tasting success at the Under-19 level and the Intercontinental Cup to bagging an IPL contract and featuring in Afghanistan’s second Test, Khan has taken rapid strides in becoming a regular candidate in the playing elevens.

Zahir Khan, alongside Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mitchell Swepson in Brisbane Heat, will strengthen their spin-bowling attack ten-fold. His List A and T20 career also look promising enough for him to claim to earn a berth in the Afghanistan squad for the T20 World Cup.