I caught up with former Pakistani fast bowler and friend of PakPassion Yasir Ali earlier today. Yasir has played all 4 matches for Baluchistan and I asked him for his thoughts on the ongoing Pentangular Trophy, his thoughts on who the upcoming players that have impressed him in the tournament etc.

I caught up with former Pakistani fast bowler and friend of PakPassion Yasir Ali earlier today.

Yasir has played all 4 matches for Baluchistan and I asked him for his thoughts on the ongoing Pentangular Trophy, his thoughts on who the upcoming players that have impressed him in the tournament etc.

Q. Which players have you been impressed with in the matches that you recently played for Baluchistan in the Pentangular Cup?

The players that have impressed me most have been Umar Amin who scored a very fluent century against us. He is a young player who seems to have a lot of ability, variety in his strokeplay. He recently toured Kenya and Zimbabwe with the academy squad and he looks a very good prospect. As for the bowlers, Talha really impressed me. Although he only took one wicket against us he bowled with good pace and hostility – I would say that he was consistently clocking between 140 and 145kph.


Q. Were there any speed guns at the matches?

No there were no speed guns, but as a first class cricketer you can normally tell who is bowling sharp and who is around the 130kph mark.


Q. Who was the fastest bowler that you saw and faced in the Pentangular cup?

It would have to be Shoaib Akhtar. When I faced him he was fired up as he had been hit around a bit and he was letting some real quick deliveries rip. He still remains the fastest bowler in Pakistan.


Q. What’s it been like playing in the Pentangular cup matches?

There was a lot of interest in this tournament, with the live coverage on TV, also due to there being no international cricket and the players have really enjoyed taking part in the tournament. The crowds have been very good, the cricket has been very competitive and the tournament has been very well organised too.


Q. What were the wickets like in the 4 matches that you played in?

The wickets have been very batting friendly especially in the second innings once the early morning swing and movement has disappeared.


Q. How highly do you rate the Punjab side?

They are a very well balanced and consistent side, although I think their batting is stronger than their bowling. They have experience in vital areas of the team and I would expect them to lift the trophy.


Q. Tell us at PakPassion about the Afridi innings against your team?

It was a sensational innings but he was crucially dropped twice by Bilal Hussein off the bowling of Danish Kaneria when he was on 17 and 40.


Q. Yasir have the selectors taken much interest in these matches?

Yes I have seen Javed Miandad, Shoaib Mohammed, Abdul Qadir and Saleem Jaffer regularly present at the matches.