Expat ‘Pakistani’ Cricketers to Watch in the World Cup

Gone are the days when youngsters aimed to represent their countries in a Cricket World Cup. Thankfully, due to the globalization of Cricket, the sport has reached all parts of the world, and it has taken those Cricketers with it who were either denied a chance to represent their home country or simply found themselves in that country by chance.

Thankfully, in the upcoming T20 World Cup, many teams besides Pakistan will feature Cricketers who were either born in Pakistan or whose parents were born there. Their inclusion in the national teams of England, Zimbabwe, the Netherlands, the United States of America, and the United Arab Emirates proves that Pakistan’s impact on world cricket goes far beyond its own national team. Not only have these expat cricketers become vital assets to their teams, but with their talent and experience, they are likely to make a dent in the opposition’s bid for success.

Let’s take a look at five such cricketers – of Pakistani origin – who will be worth keeping an eye on in this T20 World Cup.

Sikandar Raza – Zimbabwe (Captain, All-rounder)

He is not just an expat cricketer; he is the success story that every expat dreams of. Currently topping the list of the world’s best all-rounder, Sikandar Raza was born in Sialkot, Pakistan, and was least interested in Cricket when he was growing up. In his many interviews, he has stated that it was only after migrating to Zimbabwe with his family and playing club cricket during his stay in England as a student that he developed a love for the game. Since then, he has become one of Zimbabwe’s most influential cricketers, scoring nearly 3000 runs and taking over 100 wickets in T20Is, making him a central figure in their resurgence on the international stage.

Despite being on top of the world at the moment as an all-rounder who can bat anywhere in the batting order, bowl clever off-spin depending on the situation, and be counted amongst dependable fielders, it wasn’t easy for Raza to break into Zimbabwe Cricket. Through hard work and practice, the 39-year-old worked his way through the domestic system to eventually captain the national side. He brings balance, experience, and leadership to the team, which will be part of the mega event, one where Zimbabwe has previously upset teams like Australia and England, to name a few. Raza’s ability to control games with both bat and ball makes him Zimbabwe’s key player and a crucial presence in World Cup contests.

Adil Rashid – England (Leg-Spin Bowler)

He might not have been born in Pakistan, but Adil Rashid remains connected to Pakistan through his parents, who migrated to the United Kingdom in the 1960s. A technically gifted leg-spinner who can both defend runs and attack in the final overs, Rashid has been part of many limited-overs victories, including the T20 World Cup win in 2022. Although his contribution to that victory was only 4 wickets, he might try to redeem himself during the mega event starting next week.

At the moment, he is the only English bowler in the ICC Top 10 T20I bowlers’ ranking at number 6, which is a result of his ascent as one of the best in the world. With vast experience at the highest level and 145 wickets in 134 T20I matches, Rashid remains a vital weapon for England and a reminder of the strong Pakistani cricketing influence within English cricket. A lot of his success is due to his bowling in tandem with his former teammate Moeen Ali, as the two helped England win many international matches, with Adil bowling leg spin to Moeen’s off spin.

Muhammad Waseem - UAE (Captain, Batter)

The United Arab Emirates cricket team might not be a frontrunner ahead of the T20 World Cup, but their resurgence in recent years has been impressive, thanks to their Captain Muhammad Waseem. Born in Multan, Pakistan, Waseem relocated to the Emirates, completed ICC’s residency requirement in 2021, and instantly registered himself as a prospect for the future. He is one of the best exports from Pakistan to international cricket – an aggressive top-order batter known for his power-hitting.

His rise through domestic and international ranks is a success story; he provides the UAE with momentum at the start of the innings and leads from the front with the bat. That’s one of the many qualities he has displayed so far, which helped him become the UAE team’s captain. So far, he has scored over 3000 runs in T20Is with the help of 3 centuries at a healthy strike rate of over 150, and at an average of 37 runs per innings.

His 190 sixes and 268 fours at the T20I level are a warning sign for both bowlers and batters who might play against the UAE. Besides being one of the few batters who have scored a 12-ball fifty in the T10 league, he is currently ranked just one position below Pakistan’s Babar Azam at number 32 in the T20I World Rankings.

Saqib Zulfiqar – The Netherlands (All-rounder)

Saqib Zulfiqar is a valuable member of the Dutch Cricket team who not only offers them stability in the middle order but can also win matches with his useful off-spin. Born and brought up in the Netherlands, he carved out a valuable role as a technically sound all-rounder. His journey reflects the growing strength of European Associate Cricket, which has benefited a lot from Pakistani-origin players who have helped raise standards and competitiveness.

In the upcoming World Cup, Zulfiqar’s adaptability and experience across formats will make him an important contributor for the Netherlands. He is part of the triplet Zulfiqars – Asad and Sikandar being the other two – with Sikandar also representing the Dutch team in T20Is.

Shayan Jahangir – USA (Wicket-keeper/Batter)

And then there is Shayan Jahangir, the wicketkeeper who sometimes plays purely as a batter and delivers. Born in Karachi, the 31-year-old is a valuable player for the US side because he can bat lower in the order and score quick runs if needed. He has two ODI centuries to his name and would be looking forward to scoring big in T20Is as well.

Before representing the USA, he played in Pakistan's domestic circuit and made his first-class debut for PIA in the 2014-15 season. From there, he played for the Barbados Tridents in the Caribbean Premier League in 2020, after which he joined the US team. His valuable insight, both as a wicketkeeper/batter and his understanding of high-level cricket in the region, will surely add much-needed depth to the US side.