Wem has pulled off a coup with the signing of Pakistani left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Mohammad Irfan for their 2023 Shropshire County Cricket League campaign.
Irfan is a prolific Pakistani spin-bowling all-rounder who ventured to Sri Lanka to play first-class cricket in 2022.
The domestic star impressed for Ace Capital Cricket Club taking 18 wickets at 20.83 in the SLC Major League Tournament. His 5-game tally took his first-class record to a staggering 279 wickets at 24.69 alongside his 1,987 runs at 22.57 in 78 matches.
Irfan is now a veteran of 156 matches across the three formats, dating back to his List A debut in January 2011. Throughout his illustrious career, he has represented numerous Pakistani 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, and consistently one of the leading wicket-takers in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy over the years. During his best season (2017/18), Irfan bagged 44 wickets at 19.45 which 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).
With the bat, Irfan is a very useful lower to middle-order run churner. After 7 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.
Irfan has also evidenced his all-round talent abroad, during three UK stints.
He enjoyed two outstanding summers in the 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. Last summer (2022), his success continued for Ainsdale in the Liverpool League with 1,004 runs at 43.65 and 84 wickets at 16.21.
The Pakistani all-rounder is now set for another UK stint in 2023 having recently signed with Wem for their Shropshire County Cricket League campaign.
