The Hobart Hurricanes are understood to have signed Pakistani spinning all-rounder Hassan Khan as a replacement for Bangladeshi leggie Rishad Hossain who’ll miss BBL|14.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) revealed its list of no-objection clearances (NOCs) on Wednesday with 26-year-old left-arm spinner Hassan among that, granted a release for the entire BBL.
The list came as a shock given Hassan wasn’t on any BBL clubs’ books yet, but Honeyball understands the Hurricanes have signed a left-arm orthodox bowler. The Hurricanes didn’t respond when Honeyball asked to clarify the situation.
Read our report on Rishad Hossain not being available
Hassan is uncapped at international level, having been billed as the next big thing in his youth, captaining Pakistan at U19 level. But he’s barely played domestically in Pakistan over the past few years, last playing in the PSL in 2021-22.
Instead, he’s spent much of the past few years in North America where he’s developed as an all-rounder, playing 2 games in the Caribbean Premier League this year and 9 in the USA’s Major League Cricket.
Hassan starred in the MLC after being picked up in the domestic player draft, playing for San Francisco Unicorns alongside Finn Allen, Josh Inglis, Matthew Short and Pat Cummins.
He led San Fran for batting averages (40.8), scoring 204 runs in 8 knocks at a strike rate of 143.66 batting at 6/7. He also took a team-high 10 wickets at 15.6 in 9 games, with an economy rate of 7.09 including 3-5 in one game.
Hassan batted at 4 in both games for Antigua & Barbuda Falcons, scoring 46 runs including 36 from 20 in one game. He only bowled 3 overs, taking 1 wicket.
While he’s been granted a clearance for the whole BBL season, he has signed with Abu Dhabi Knight Riders for ILT20, which starts on January 11.
As revealed last month, Hobart draftee Rishad will not be permitted to take up his BBL contract with the Bangladesh Premier League club Fortune Barishul not granting him a release.
The BPL starts on December 30 this season and Rishad was keen to head to Australia prior to that for a few games, but Barishul opted not to let him go.
View Honeyball’s predicted Hobart Hurricanes Round 1 line-up
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