Ihsanullah credits first-class cricket for his success

Pakistan's emerging pace sensation, Ihsanullah attributes his success as a fast bowler to his experience in first-class cricket.

 According to him, first-class cricket is the pinnacle format where everything can be learned, and one can find the right length to trouble the batsmen.

ALSO READ: Many people are interested to buy two new PSL teams: Najam Sethi

"First-class cricket, you know everything you can learn is through that format. You cannot bowl everywhere, you have to find that right length and get the batsmen out from that particular length. The areas that I bowled in first-class cricket, that helped me a lot in One Day Cup as well as PSL," he said.

The 20-year-old made his FC debut last year and has so far picked up 22 wickets at an average of 28.22 apiece in seven matches.

In a video interview posted by the PCB, the right-arm pacer shared his fast bowling inspirations - Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar. However, he hopes to emulate Akhtar's ability to clock 160 km/h while terrorizing batsmen, and improve his own bowling style.

"My fast bowling ideal is Waqar Younis, but I have watched a lot of videos of Shoaib Akhtar, where he was hitting the batsmen on their heads and shattering their stumps. So I thought to myself that I will try to become like him," Ihsanullah said.

"Whoever I've met, they have told me to clock that 160 km/h mark. I've told that I'll put in the effort and rest is in Allah's hands. I have a younger brother as well, he's nine years old. He is a good bowler as well and he has told me that he wants to become like me," he concluded.

Ihsanullah's dedication and hard work paid off as he took five wickets in a recent Pakistan Super League match against Quetta Gladiators, making him the tournament's second-highest wicket-taker. As a result, he was selected for the Pakistan squad for Afghanistan T20Is.

Despite the slow wickets in Sharjah, the emerging pacer impressed with his pace and short-pitched bowling, troubling the Afghanistan batters. As a result, he has been included in the Pakistan ODI squad to face New Zealand at home.