Pakistan's new pace sensation Ihsanullah clocks 150 kmph, bowls with accuracy

If India is the warehouse of batting in cricket, Pakistan is easily the bowling factory of global cricket. The 20-year-old Ihsanullah, a new pace sensation, is attracting a lot of attention during the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) with his speed and precision while playing for Multan Sultans. 

Young Ihsanullah not only bowls exceptional spells at a galloping pace, he is doing so with accuracy as well. In a recent high-scoring match (Match 11, PSL 2023) against the star-studded Karachi Kings played at the Multan Cricket Stadium, Ihsanullah bowled four overs for just 17 runs. The Mohammad Rizwan-led Multan Sultans went on to win the thriller by a slender margin of three runs.

On February 23 evening, Ihsanullah clocked 150 kph.

Ihsanullah’s Speed and Accuracy 

With his pace and accuracy, he rattled the experienced batter, Shoaib Malik. The Imad Wasim-led Karachi Kings were chasing a stiff target of 197 runs in 20 overs and were looking comfortable in their chase after scoring 70 plus runs in the powerplay, and 100 inside the first ten overs. 

But then, Ihsanullah had other ideas.

He neither allowed Shoaib Malik nor Haider Ali to score at a brisk pace or rotate the strike at will. He put a break on the scoring rate of Karachi Kings by bowling dots, thus halting their momentum by bowling fiery overs without going for plenty. In his spell of four overs, and 24 balls, the pacer bowled 13 dots and conceded just two boundaries towards the end.

In a previous game, the young pacer claimed a maiden 5-fer against the Quetta Gladiators.   

So, who is Ihsanullah? Where does he come from? Is he the one for the future?

From Rags to Riches

From whatever one has seen thus far, Ihsanullah looks a bright prospect. He hails from a remote Arkot hamlet, a mountainous area in Matta Tehsil in Pakistan’s picturesque Swat valley. According to multiple reports from credible media houses, Ihsanullah’s house was washed away in the devastating floods in 2022 when millions were severely affected in Pakistan. 

In a way, Ihsanullah’s story is really one of going from rags to riches. It was a matter of luck that Ihsanullah along with Sirajuddin, another young pacer in the Peshawar Zalmi camp, were called up for trials in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, by former Pakistan wicket-keeper batter Rashid Latif. 

Pakistan - A Factory of Bowling Machines

Pakistan has no dearth of fast and furious bowlers. Currently, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Shahnawaz Dahani and a few others are making a mark at the international stage.

In the past, Pakistan has produced legendary fast bowlers, including Sarfaraz Nawaz, Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Amir, Junaid Khan, Wahab Riaz, Umar Gul, Usman Shinwari and many more. 

Interestingly, both Ihsanullah and Sirajuddin were enrolled in the ‘Kamyab Jawan Sports Drive’, a talent hunt initiative launched by former legendary cricketer and former prime minister Imran Khan in collaboration with Lahore Qalandars’ player development programme. 

After being recommended to three PSL franchises – Lahore Qalandars, Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans – the Multan Sultans got interested in him and that is how was included in the PSL 2022 draft.

Not many remember that Ihsanullah also featured briefly in the last edition of the PSL. He picked up an injury in a game against Lahore Qalandars and bowled just one over against Karachi Kings. To begin with, his pace was hovering around 130 kmph and only occasionally would he clock 140 kmph.

He bowled at a decent pace in Pakistan’s National T20 Cup. There is no looking back since. 

What separates Ihsanullah from his peers is that he does not seem to focus only on bowling quick, he wears a thinking cap and bowls economically too. He has shown that he can clock 150 kmph when needed. He is a complete package as a modern-day fast bowler. He is here to stay.

For a better experience: Download the CricTracker app from the IOS App Store and Google Play Store