Ainsdale has moved swiftly to replace outgoing pro Zia Ur Rehman Akbar with Pakistani tweaker Mohammad Irfan for their 2022 Liverpool League campaign.
Prolific numbers
Irfan is a prolific spin bowling all-rounder playing for Southern Punjab in Pakistani domestic cricket.
A veteran of 150 plus matches across the three formats, dating back to his List A debut in January 2011, Irfan has taken 345 wickets and scored 2,594 runs.
He has represented numerous domestic sides, most recently for Southern Punjab which features the likes of international players Shan Masood, Aamer Yamin, Bilawal Bhatti, Hussain Talat, Zia-ul-Haq, and Mohammad Abbas to name but a few.
The slow left-arm orthodox spinner has been a stand-out player, particularly in first-class cricket where he boasts 261 wickets at 24.95 alongside 1,983 runs at 23.05 with a highest score of 101.
One of QeA’s best
Irfan has been consistently amongst the leading wicket-takers in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy over the years – his best season (2017/18), where he captured 44 wickets at 19.45 culminated with Pakistan A selection.
The all-rounder played first-class and List A matches against England Lions where he impressed, taking first-innings figures of 4-80 (25), and 1-29 (10) including the wicket of Ollie Pope in the red and white ball matches, respectively (Nov / Dec 2018).
Handy with the bat, too…
With the bat, Irfan is a very useful lower to middle-order run churner. After 6 half-centuries in first-class cricket, he scored his maiden domestic ton (101) during the 2019/20 season, amongst his 235 runs at 33.57.
Staffs success
Irfan has also evidenced his all-round talent abroad, during two stints in the strong North Staffs and South Cheshire Premier League. Playing for Wood Lane (2015, 2018), he scored 1,187 runs at 32.08 and took 128 wickets at 14.19. His tally included 8 fifties and 8 five-wicket hauls.
Now set for Liverpool
The experienced all-rounder is now set on a UK return in 2022 having recently signed with Ainsdale for their Liverpool League campaign.
