Ravi Bopara: “He’s come such a long way from where he was last year. The first time I saw him was last year and where he is today, is a big difference. He’s growing in confidence”

Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani

Karachi Kings assistant coach Ravi Bopara said he has seen a big difference in up-and-coming Pakistan batsman Irfan Khan over the last year.

Irfan recently played for the Kings in the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL) and had a strong campaign, amassing 171 runs in nine matches at an average of 42.75 and a strike-rate of 140.16.

Bopara liked what he saw from the 21-year-old and admitted that there is a “big difference” between where he was back in 2023 and today.

“He’s come such a long way from where he was last year. The first time I saw him was last year and where he is today, is a big difference. He’s growing in confidence,” the former England all-rounder was quoted as saying by A Sports.

Following PSL 9, Irfan made his international debut as he featured in Pakistan’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand and made 48 runs in three games.

Afterwards, he didn’t feature in the three-match T20I series against Ireland or the four-match T20I series against England.

Pakistan will now be involved in the 2024 T20 World Cup, which is being played in the West Indies and United States of America.

The men in green’s first T20 World Cup game will be against the United States of America in Dallas on June 6.

Pakistan Squad for 2024 T20 World Cup: Babar Azam (capt), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan (wk), Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Abbas Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed

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