Pakistani all rounder Yasir Arafat gives his views on the forthcoming RBS T20 Competition and also talks about his hopes for the Twenty/20 World Cup.

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25th February 2010

by Saj Sadiq

The PCB have announed that the much anticipated RBS Twenty/20 competition will start on Sunday 28th February and will run for 8 consecutive days in Karachi, with all fixtures being scheduled for the National Stadium.

All the familiar names in Pakistani cricket, as well as some highly rated youngsters will be taking part in a very high profile and important tournament for the players. The "golden egg" that awaits those who perform well in the competition could be a seat on the plane to the Caribbean to represent reigning Twenty/20 World Champions Pakistan in the forthcoming Twenty/20 World Cup.

Thirteen teams have been split into four groups with the group winners going foward to the semi finals and PakPassion.net asked Pakistan and Sussex all rounder Yasir Arafat to preview the tournament and tell us who he thinks will be the teams to watch out for.

"There are two squads that immediately catch the eye and look extremely strong in my opinion" stated Arafat. "It would be a surprise to me if the eventual winners did not come from the Sialkot Stallions or the Lahore Lions. The Sialkot team has some exceptional talent with Shoaib Malik leading the team and international players like Rana Naved ul Hasan, Imran Nazir and Mohammad Asif in the Sialkot squad. As well as the international players they also have very good domestic players of the calibre of Qaisar Abbas and Mansoor Amjad and they will be very difficult to beat".

Whilst Arafat is impressed by the Sialkot squad he also rates the Lahore Lions very highly and expects them to be there or thereabouts when the prize money is being handed out. "Lahore Lions have a very well balanced squad too, with the likes of Kamran Akmal, Salman Butt, Abdul Razzaq, Nasir Jamshed and Umar Akmal in their ranks and I would say they are the favourites for the tournament".

Arafat who recently made an international comeback with two fine displays in the Twenty/20 matches in Dubai against England, will be representing the Rawalpindi Rams who appear to have a formiddable bowling lineup that includes Mohammad Aamer, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Rameez and of course Arafat himself. "We'll give it our best shot, we have some talented boys in our squad and in Twenty/20 cricket anything is possible. We have to play Sialkot and Karachi Zebras so it's a tough group but I'm sure we can do very well and play some good cricket".

On a personal note, Arafat was delighted with his comeback for Pakistan and wants to do his utmost to ensure he is selected for the forthcoming Twenty/20 World Cup. "It was great to be back in the green of Pakistan and I was happy with my performance where I took 3 for 32 and 1 for 18. Of course I wanted us to win both matches in Dubai, but it was important that we came back well and secured victory in the second game. The RBS Twenty/20 competition is absolutely vital for all of the players who are looking to make the squad for the World Cup and it's imperative that I perform well and catch the eye of the selectors and keep my spot in the squad, especially after the injury heartbreak I suffred during the last Twenty/20 World Cup. There's a lot of competition for places and I'm sure there will be a lot of players taking part in the RBS Cup hoping to make the cut for the Caribbean".

Arafat who had a very successful time recently playing in the New Zealand domestic Twenty/20 competition for Otago added that he would quite happily go back there next season if required. "It's a very professional setup in Otago, a great bunch of lads and it was a fantastic experience playing in New Zealand. I would jump at the chance to go back there if they required my services. I've heard that they may be allowing two overseas players in the New Zealand Twenty/20 competition next season, so let's see what happens and if they want me back".

27 year old Arafat who recently became the highest wicket taker in Twenty/20 cricket has already been signed up by Sussex for the 2010 County season but admits his appearances for Sussex next season could be limited in a prolonged tour of England for Pakistan. "The priority of course is the same as it is for any cricketer and that is to play for your country. My aim is to be part of the Pakistan squad for the matches in England against England and Australia and I really hope that I perform well enough for Pakistan to be selected for the tour later this year. Of course if I don't get selected then I will still be in England representing Sussex during the English summer".

Arafat and his Rawalpindi colleagues start their RBS Twenty/20 Cup campaign on Tuesday 2nd March against Karachi Zebras and then face the Sialkot Stallions on Thursday 4th March in a very competitive three team group.