The Sydney Thunder have confirmed that Pakistan international T20 leg spin bowler Usman Qadir will join the side for the upcoming Big Bash League season.
The Thunder, who made the finals last year, could be without young gun Tanveer Sangha for much of this year's campaign as he continues to recover from stress fractures in his back that have derailed his start to the summer.
Sangha is yet to feature at any level this season.
Qadir has previously played premier cricket in both Sydney and Adelaide, while also spending the 2018-19 summer with the Perth Scorchers. He was then selected for Pakistan on the back of it, and has since played 23 T20 internationals for Pakistan, where he has taken 29 wickets at a stunning 19.06.
Despite that, he missed the T20 World Cup in Australia, his last match coming in the seven-match series before the major tournament against England at home.
Head of the Sydney Thunder Andrew Gilchrist said it was exciting to see Qadir join the Thunder.
โUsman joins us with plenty of experience, having represented Pakistan, and playing in T20 leagues around the world,โ he said.
โImportantly, he has firsthand knowledge of Australian conditions, he played for Western Australia and South Australia's Futures League [2012-13], so he knows what to expect.
โHe's also made it clear that he is proud his father re-invented the googly; I have read that he feels as though he's its โcustodian'. I hope he drives our opponents mad with his googly and other tricks this summer โit will provide extra sting to our attack.โ
The Thunder open their Big Bash League season on Tuesday, December 13 in Canberra against the Melbourne Stars.
