Faheem Ashraf: Northamptonshire re-sign all-rounder for all formats for 2020 - contract cancelled

[re82h]

Pakistan international Faheem Ashraf will return to Northamptonshire for the opening half of the 2020 season.

The allrounder featured for the Steelbacks in the 2019 Vitality Blast, finishing the club’s joint-leading wicket taker with 11 scalps at an average of 19. A regular in Pakistan’s white-ball teams, Faheem also boasts an impressive first-class record and Head Coach David Ripley believes Faheem will contribute to the side with both bat and ball.

“He’s a little bit different bowling wise to what we currently have, he’s got a little bit more pace, he’s a swing bowler and he’s got a batting average of 30.” said Ripley.

“I think the key element for Faheem is although we signed him for white ball cricket this year it was pretty clear to see he could bat properly. He’s played test match cricket for Pakistan so he’s a genuine three formats cricketer.”

Red ball captain Adam Rossington echoed the thoughts of Ripley.

“I think he’s definitely a genuine allrounder, he’s a very good batsman and though we didn’t get to see him bat too many times in the T20 we know he’ll slot in well.”

“He’s very skilful and offers something a little bit different to the bowlers we’ve got. It does tend to be a bit more bowler friendly here than in Pakistan, particularly with the Dukes ball so hopefully early season there’ll be a bit in the wickets for him.”

Northamptonshire’s opening duo of Ben Sanderson and Brett Hutton have excelled this year, sharing nearly 100 wickets between them. David Ripley is hoping Faheem will compliment them and offer something extra when conditions begin to favour the batsmen.

“The fact he’s got the extra pace is key, we’ve got a very fine group of seam bowlers that got us into Division 1 and that’s not going to change. But when it’s a bit flatter and it’s the last 2 days of the game and that little bit of nip has gone out of the wicket, someone with a bit of pace and swing and bowling yorkers then I can see him being a genuine threat when the wickets are flatter.” said Ripley.

“What the seam bowlers in Pakistan tend to have to do is find a way to get people out when those wickets are very flat and pretty slow. That’s with swing, that’s with Yorkers and bouncers, that’s with reverse swing.”

Faheem is available for selection in all-forms of cricket until the end of the 2020 Vitality Blast group stages subject to NOC clearance.

http://www.northantscricket.com/clu...er-2019/faheem-to-return-to-northamptonshire/


Faheem is lucky to be signed up again. His numbers were shocking. Good for pakistan i guess but he will need to perform next year.

 

[Sunny_majoka]

Faheem , is a good batsman,
" This bubble will blow up soon"

 

[re82h]

Faheem , is a good batsman,
" This bubble will blow up soon"

i am surprised it hasn't already. really didn't think anyone would have signed him up again.

 

[saeed5646]

Good for fahim

 

[asadee]

What fixtures do they have now that the cup is over?

 

[saeed5646]

What fixtures do they have now that the cup is over?

Apparently they have signed him for first half of next season

 

[babajee]

He's actually done pretty decently in first class cricket. A good signing.

 

[Rellu_Katta]

could be blessing in disguise.... county captain will probably use him better rather than domestic captains who prefer to bloaster themselves rather than giving chances to a youngster to show their potential ...

Faheem needs time in the middle.. he isnt great with the bat but he isnt a dummy too... spending time in the middle and a decent batting coach who can work on his weakness (short ball) will pay dividends ....

 

[SensiblePakFan]

Good for him.

 

[Kaka4pope]

Well done Faheem Ashraf, might not be the young Razzaq many of us hark for but fair play to him - getting recognition on the county circuit.

 

[Mercurial]

Ideally he should be the third seamer in our ODI XI. Shinwari, Afridi and Faheem.

 

[Mueez]

Faheem’s working hard.

Whether he has the talent or not, he is a hard worker.

 

[Markhor]

County standards ain't what they used to be.

 

[Kroll]

Faheem’s working hard.

Whether he has the talent or not, he is a hard worker.

And as they say hard work always trumps talent. Umar Akmal being a prime example.

 

[Mueez]

And as they say hard work always trumps talent. Umar Akmal being a prime example.

Absolutely.

 

[Finisher]

Bowled decently in The blast, batting was a flop.
I thought Northamptonshire would have been glad to see the back of him.

 

[chacha kashmiri]

Seem to have invested into him but there is a real lack of quality fast bowling all rounders since the days of botham, Hadlee and dev

 

[hitthestump]

He's certainly an above average bowler at county level.

Not sure the assessment on his batting is correct, but if expectations are going to be high then it can only do him some good.

Faheem has potential. He was a letdown pre WC but he has the ingredients to be a decent number 8 in all formats if he comes good.

 

[The Viper]

His T20 performances were poor- he batted like a tailender.

He could be of use in FC, considering he has pretty good test record(small sample size).

Northants must see something in him.

 

[BoomBoomCricket]

The contracts of overseas signings Faheem Ashraf and Kieron Pollard have been cancelled.

Faheem was due to spend the first half of the season at The County Ground, with Pollard set to feature for the Steelbacks in the Vitality Blast.

The contracts of both players were cancelled after a mutual agreement between the Club, players and their management.

“It’s obviously really disappointing as they’re superb players and there was a real buzz around them joining the squad.” Head Coach David Ripley said.

“I’d really like to thank the players and their management for their understanding and cooperation.”

Chief Executive Ray Payne is hopeful fans will still have the opportunity to see Faheem and Pollard in Northamptonshire shirts in the future.

“There are a lot of ifs, buts and maybes,” said Payne.

“We don’t have any schedule yet for next season so those players don’t know where they’re going to be. But once we’ve got a schedule, we’ll definitely be talking to them about coming back.”