Sports Desk:

A phone call from Tamim Iqbal persuaded him to come and play in the Bangladesh Premier League that starts on Monday, revealed Pakistani fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi.

The 24-year-old pacer will feature alongside Tamim for defending champions Fortune Barishal in the seven-team franchise tournament.

Shaheen, who is one of the premier pacers of Pakistan, isn’t part of the squad that is currently playing a Test series in South Africa against the Proteas. There were reports that he was dropped from the squad due to disciplinary issues.

The southpaw, though, didn’t want to talk about that when he was facing the media at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Saturday. Rather, he shared the story about how he came to Bangladesh this time.

‘I’m always ready whenever Tamim bhai calls me,’ said Shaheen during the media interaction.

‘Last year I was busy with an international schedule. I couldn’t manage time for the last two to three years. This time I have. I hope I will play some good cricket.’

Shaheen already led Lahore Qalandars to two consecutive PSL titles in 2022 and 2023. He has featured in ILT20, The Hundred, and T20 Blast. But this will be the first time that he is set to feature in BPL.

‘I’m excited to play in the league in Bangladesh. Since Tamim bhai called me to come and play, I’ve been excited. Now I’m looking forward to it,’ said Shaheen.

Despite not playing in Bangladesh in the domestic circuit, Shaheen has had some ideas about cricket here.

‘I know the people of Bangladesh love cricket; they love their superstars. I hope I’ll play well’, he added.

The left-arm pacer is among the big names in this season’s BPL, but he doesn’t want to think like that.

When asked about his feelings about being ‘the biggest superstar in the league,’ Shaheen said, ‘I’m no star, to be honest. There are many players from Bangladesh—like Tamim. All the national stars of this country are playing.’

‘I’m here only as a cricketer, and I’ll be trying to perform and win matches for my team,’ added the Pakistani star.

Shaheen will also have a familiar face in the BPL as his father-in-law, Shahid Afridi will work as a mentor for Chittagong Kings.

He mentioned that he played badminton with Shahid two days earlier.

However, Shaheen was relieved as he wasn’t supposed to face his in-law on the field.

‘The good thing for me is that he isn’t playing,’ said Shaheen. ‘He will come as a mentor. I hope that the young cricketers from Bangladesh will be able to learn so many things from him.’