The Sydney Sixers hope to have Shadab Khan available for their game against the Brisbane Heat on Wednesday after he was forced to miss their 30-run win over the Thunder on Sunday night.
In somewhat bizarre scenes, the Pakistani spinner was forced to sit by himself on a plastic chair at Spotless Stadium as he watched his new teammates get bragging rights in the Sydney derby.
Khan only landed in Sydney a few days ago and hasn’t been able to train with the team because of Covid restrictions.
The 23-year-old had to travel to the ground by himself on Sunday, had his own dressing room and had to train away from the team with one other person who was standing 20 metres away, according to a Sixers spokesperson.
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Khan had a Covid test early Sunday morning, with the club sending it through urgently hoping to have the result back before the game started.
Sixers skipper Moises Henriques said pre-game that they would sub him on as the x-factor if the result came through before the 10-over mark, but it wasn’t to be as Khan spent most of the night by himself in the rain.
“It’s pretty frustrating for us and for Shadab. Hopefully the test comes back before the next game,” Sixers veteran Dan Christian told News Corp.
“He’s a brilliant player and I’ve played a bit with him years ago in the CPL (Caribbean Premier League), and I’ve played against him in the PSL (Pakistan Super League). He’s a fantastic cricketer and he’ll be a great addition for us.”
The Sixers would love to have the star spinner cleared ahead of their next game because they are currently without Steve O’Keefe (calf strain) and Ben Manenti (neck), with the latter set to miss the rest of the BBL.
The Thunder usually rely on Alex Hales to get them home, but in the end the rain hurt them as the Sixers flexed their muscles to win the Sydney Smash by 30 runs.
The two-time defending champions will be tough to beat this year after they rode some early punches to pick up another big win on Boxing Day.
The Sixers were struggling at 1-49 after seven overs, but the second rain delay of the night turned the game on its head as it quickened up the pitch, allowing the men in magenta to pile on the runs.
The 30-minute delay shortened the game to 16 overs, with the greasy ball nullifying the Thunder’s spinners. It meant the visitors could sit back and punish the quicks as they posted a commanding 4/168.
Their top six all reached double digits, but Dan Hughes (50 off 26) was the pick of the batters with five massive sixes swinging momentum his side’s way.
His departure in the power surge did nothing to slow the run rate, with veteran Dan Christian blasting an unbeaten 41 off 17 deliveries to lift his side to a commanding total.
“I haven’t had the returns in the first five games…but when you get a chance, hopefully you can take it,” Christian told NCA NewsWire.
The chase was always going to be tough once the target was adjusted to 173, and the Thunder were on the backfoot from the outset when Matthew Gilkes was dismissed in the first over.
Englishman Alex Hales was the key, and while he pumped Sean Abbott for back-to-back sixes, the bowler got the last laugh when he picked up the opener next ball on the rope.
Young gun Jason Sangha (47 off 30) looked in terrific touch in his second game of the tournament, but his dismissal in the tenth over was the beginning of the end for the Thunder who have now lost three of their five games this season and face the high-flying Scorchers on Tuesday.
“When I got out, I think we lost that anchor which I was in the innings,” Sangha said.
“I’ve got to understand that I’ve got to bat through to the end.”
CUTTING CAUGHT OUT
Not much went right for the Thunder in the final over with the ball, with the Sixers swatting Nathan McAndrew to all parts of the ground. There was a six, a couple of boundaries and even a waist high full toss that was called a no ball. But Ben Cutting must have been half asleep because he didn’t realise it was a free hit when Dan Christian slapped one straight to him at cover. Inexplicably, Cutting threw the ball in the air to celebrate, allowing the Sixers to scamper through for a second.
“He obviously just forgot it was a free hit. Silky (Jordan Silk) was on the ball, so we came back for two,” Christian said.
Cricket: Bizarre scenes at Sydney Showground as Sydney Thunder's Ben Cutting thought he had caught Sydney Sixers' Dan Christian, however he quickly realised it was a free hit.
MURPHY FROWN
Aussie quick Scott Boland will never forget his Test debut at the MCG, but spare a thought for Sixers rookie Todd Murphy whose Big Bash debut didn’t quite go to plan. Murphy was subbed off before he had the chance to bat or bowl, with Mickey Edwards brought in to replace him.
https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/b...ar-shadab-khan-stranded-as-x-factor-c-5094966
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