Qalandars' PDP duo hopeful for Big Bash contract in Australia

KARACHI: The spin duo of Farzan Raja and Ahsan Mirza from the Lahore Qalandars’ players Development Program are now eyeing to play in Australia’s Big Bash League, after getting the opportunity to train with BBL team Hobart Hurricanes.

Both the players who were part of Lahore Qalandars player development squad that toured Abu Dhabi and Sydney earlier this year, impressed the local cricket authorities with their performances.

Qalandars, as manifesto of its player development program, explored opportunities for the duo and they were signed by Tasmania Cricket, initially for two months and later extended for six months.

On Thursday, both the players attended the camp with the BBL team Hobart Hurricanes.

They now see this as an opportunity to prove themselves and earn a contract to play in Australia’s top T20 League.

Farzan Raja told Geo.tv from Hobart that he’s hoping to get a contract and a final decision is likely to be made in two weeks’ time.

“I am now in Hobart and training with BBL team Hobart Hurricanes and I am near to a BBL contract,” he said when asked about his experience so far in Tasmania.

“My journey started with LQ’s player development program, it’s a life changing experience for me. It’s been a dream run till now, selected from PDP, went to Abu Dhabi, came to Australia for Quinn Series and now in Hobart. I consider myself very lucky to be part of this. I want to thank LQ because this has all been possible because of the management of Lahore Qalandars,” he said.

His team mate Ahsan Mirza said that Qalandars PDP has brought him out of oblivion and put him near his dream moment.

“Nobody knew me four months before, LQ picked me from PDP and gave me opportunity to restart my journey and now I am in Australia training with Hobart Hurricanes,” Mirza said.

The Lahore Qalandars PDP, this year, went to 11 different cities of Pakistan to take trials of over 100,000 aspiring Qalandars.