Ijaz impressed by Taskin, wants him in the PSL

The memory of Taskin Ahmed's tears after missing out on the 2019 World Cup squad likely lingers in the minds of many.

That incident brought the Bangladeshi pacer into the spotlight, but at the time, he seemed to be losing his way. Despite a dream debut and a few years in the national team, Taskin struggled to find his footing. However, through relentless hard work and a transformation in his lifestyle, the right-arm pacer has reinvented himself.

Since his comeback, Taskin has emerged as the leader of Bangladesh's pace attack. Regularly representing his country across all three formats, he has amassed a wealth of success both at home and abroad. Currently excelling in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), the star pacer recently achieved the league's best-ever bowling figures in a single match.

Taskin's stellar performances have not gone unnoticed by foreign franchise leagues. Pakistan's Super League (PSL) has its sights set on him. The head coach of Taskin's BPL team, Durbar Rajshahi, Ijaz Ahmed, has been captivated by his bowling and expressed his desire to see him play in the PSL. In an interview with The Business Standard during the BPL's Sylhet phase, Ijaz revealed that he has recommended Lahore Qalandars to consider Taskin for their team.

The year 2024 was phenomenal for Taskin. At 29 years old, he ended the year as Bangladesh's highest wicket-taker, claiming 63 international scalps at an average of 19.23. He began 2025 in similarly blistering form, taking 12 wickets in 4 matches for Rajshahi in the BPL. On 2nd January, against Dhaka Capitals, Taskin recorded figures of 7 for 19, the best in BPL history and the third-best in the history of the format.

Ijaz, who has previously coached the Lahore Qalandars, is well-acquainted with the franchise and believes Taskin has the ability to shine in the PSL. The former Pakistani batsman remarked, "I have recommended Taskin to Lahore Qalandars. They are watching the BPL and certainly like him. Hopefully, he will get the opportunity to play in the PSL and further enrich his experience. We will have more discussions with him about this."

Ijaz believes that Taskin can single-handedly alter the course of a match. Praising the Bangladeshi pacer, Rajshahi's coach added, "He is a genuine pacer, a strike bowler. If you have someone like him in your team, you should use him to take wickets. Such bowlers are essential for breaking partnerships. Especially when the opposition is in a good rhythm, you need someone like Taskin to change the game. Bringing him on can create pressure after taking one or two wickets, making anything possible. In my eyes, Taskin is that type of bowler. He's a great guy and an excellent bowler. I hope he continues to play regularly for Bangladesh."

Taskin himself is optimistic about gaining valuable experience from franchise cricket. Speaking to The Business Standard, he acknowledged Ijaz Ahmed's recommendation to Lahore Qalandars. He also revealed that another PSL team, Peshawar Zalmi, might consider signing him. A Pakistani batsman from his Rajshahi team informed him that he would suggest Taskin to Zalmi's management.

For now, though, Taskin remains focused on the BPL. Discussing the situation, Taskin said, "I'm aware of Ijaz Ahmed's recommendation. Haris (Rauf) also mentioned a PSL team to me. He said he'd suggest me to Peshawar Zalmi. Let's see what happens in the draft on 13th January. Right now, I am completely focused on the BPL. If I keep performing well, offers will come from various leagues."

During his 9-year international career, Taskin has received invitations from several global leagues. However, due to the Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) refusal to provide No-Objection Certificates (NOCs), he has often missed out. Last year, he was finally able to play in foreign leagues, including the Zimbabwe T10 and the Lanka Premier League, having represented Bangladesh in 17 Tests, 77 ODIs, and 73 T20Is. Taskin has also been invited to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on multiple occasions but has been unable to participate due to the lack of an NOC, similarly missing opportunities to play county cricket.