Umer Khan would be in my Pakistan T20 World Cup squad: Dean Jones

Dean Jones, the former Australia cricketer, is mightily impressed with left-arm spinner Umer Khan. The tweaker was recently a part of the Karachi Kings in the 2020 edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). However, he featured in only six matches where he could only manage four wickets at an economy of 9.11. His best figures of 1/22 came against the Multan Sultans in Lahore.

Jones, who’s the head coach of the Kings, also backed him to make the Pakistan squad for the T20 World Cup in Australia. But the fact that the 20-year-old hasn’t played a whole lot of first-class cricket until now has disappointed the veteran.

Khan is a superstar: Den Jones

“Karachi Kings have got a young sensational kid Umer Khan. But he’s not played even half the games he could have in first-class cricket which is ridiculous. The kid is a potential superstar & he would probably be in my squad for the T20 World Cup,” Jones was quoted as saying in Pak Passion.

The Kings had a reasonable time in the PSL where they finished second in the points table. The team, led by Imad Wasim, managed five wins out of 10 games and finished one place below table toppers Sultans.

The Rawalpindi-born Khan made his first-class debut way back in November 2018 and has played only three matches until now. In those matches, the Young Turk picked up eight wickets with a six-wicket haul to show for his efforts.

As far as T20s are concerned, Khan has plied his trade in only 18 matches in which he has gotten 20 wickets at a decent economy of 7.74. He has the best figures came in the form of 3/22 in the format. The PSL gave him the chance to rub shoulders with the likes of Mohammad Amir, Babar Azam and Alex Hales.

Khan has a fair amount of experience in List A cricket as well. In 15 matches, the tweaker has picked up 20 wickets at an excellent economy of 4.65. He has a four-wicket haul to his name as well. Currently, Pakistan have Imad Wasim as a specialist left-arm spinner and it remains to be seen whether or not Umer Khan gets the nod.