5 Associate cricketers who deserve to play in the IPL

Over the years, the Indian Premier League has set the platform for many players to become stars of T20 cricket. However, the one thing that is yet to be seen in the Indian Premier League is the participation of cricketers from the associate nations with Ryan Ten Doeschate being the only notable associate cricketer in the IPL so far.

This year’s auction saw only two associate cricketers go under the hammer, both going unsold. In recent years, we have seen a number of associate cricketers who have provided a lot of sensational performances in the T20 format. Let’s take a look at five associate cricketers who deserve to play in the Indian Premier League.

#1 Mohammad Shahzad (Afghanistan)

Afghanistan’s wicket-keeper batsman has been their premier T20 batsman over the past few years. In fact, he is currently ranked No.10 in the ICC T20 batsman rankings.

The 28-year old has racked up 1,367 runs in 48 T20 internationals at an average close to 30 and with an impressive strike rate of 136.42. Moreover, Shahzad also holds numerous records among associate cricketers in T20Is which includes most runs, most man-of-the-match awards and most scores of 50+.

The dashing opener’s hard hitting and his ability to provide good starts to the Afghan innings has been one of the key reasons why Afghanistan have been ranked above Bangladesh in the ICC T20 rankings.

Shahzad first became a name to reckon with for his unbeaten knock of 65 against Ireland in the final of the 2010 ICC World T20 qualifier which helped Afghanistan win the tournament. Since then, the hard-hitting batsman has contributed immensely to Afghanistan’s success in qualifying for the World T20s that have followed.

In this year’s World T20, Shahzad was at his peak, scoring 222 runs at an average of 31.71, at an impressive strike rate of 140; ending the tournament as the fourth highest run scorer. Although his highest score of the tournament was 61 against Scotland, the innings for which perhaps he will be most remembered would be his quick-fire 19-ball 44 against South Africa which gave Afghanistan a very solid start chasing a target of 210.

The swashbuckling opener followed his cameo with a comment that caught everyone’s eye. The comment which he made was that Dale Steyn wasn’t a danger and had he not been dropped, Afghanistan would have come a step closer to beating South Africa.

#2 Kevin O’Brien (Ireland)

Kevin O’Brien has continued his consistent form since the 2011 World Cup

The 32-year old Irishman has perhaps been Ireland’s best all-rounder throughout the past 6-7 years. Kevin O’Brien made the headlines after scoring the fastest ever World Cup century against England at the 2011 World Cup which helped Ireland to a surprise victory.

Apart from being a useful middle order batsman who has the capability to hit the ball hard and provide a good finish to the innings, O’Brien has proved to be a handy bowler as well. These credentials make the Irishman a pretty handy cricketer in T20 cricket and at present he is undoubtedly one of the finest all-rounders when it comes to the associate nations.

Over the years O’Brien has been an essential component of an Ireland side which has been improving considerably; contibuting immensely to the Ireland’s T20 performances in the World T20 qualifiers as well as in the World Cup. The younger of the O'Brien brother has featured in every IPL auction since 2012 but has repeatedly failed to find a franchise. A player of his calibre should be given an opportunity to play in the IPL.

#3 Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan)

Nabi was the top wicket taker of the World T20 this year.

Mohammad Nabi is currently Afghanistan’s best player in T20s as well as in the ODI format. The 31-year old has been an excellent all-rounder over the years; being an aggressive middle-order batsman and an equally good spinner. He is also currently Afghanistan’s fourth highest run-getter in T20Is having scored 621 runs at an impressive strike rate of 131.25 while also being the highest wicket-taker for Afghanistan in T20is with 47 wickets at an average of almost 23.95 and at an impressive economy rate of 6.90.

Nabi has played an important role in Afghanistan’s recognition in international cricket, taking the most number of wickets at the 2010 ICC World T20 qualifier which Afghanistan won thus helping Afghanistan qualify for their first ICC Championship.

Nabi has always delivered for Afghanistan ever since and as a result of his consistent performances, he was made Afghanistan’s captain in 2012; a position which he held on for 3 years before relinquishing it to Asghar Stanikzai in 2015. In the recently concluded World T20, the all-rounder probably played the best cricket of his career.

After helping Afghanistan conquer the qualifiers, Nabi continued to impress in the Super 10s as well especially in the bowling department. His efforts were finally paid off in Afghanistan’s final game of the tournament as they beat eventual champions West Indies by 6 runs as Nabi ended with figures of 2-26 in four overs. The smart off-spinner ended the tournament as its highest wicket taker.

#4 Stephan Myburgh (Netherlands)

Myburgh is currently one of Netherlands’ finest batsmen

The left-handed opening batsman from the Netherlands is a hard hitter of the cricket ball and has been in impeccable form for the Netherlands in the last couple of years. Through his hard hitting, Myburgh has been able to provide solid starts to the Netherlands’ batting.

Myburgh rose to prominence through his performances in the 2014 ICC World T20. In Netherlands’ opening match of the tournament’s group stage against UAE, the aggressive opener smashed an impressive 55 off 36 balls to take the orange brigade to a convincing victory. In their final group game against Ireland, Netherlands needed to chase down a total of 190 in a maximum of 14.2 overs to progress further in the tournament.

In these circumstances, Myburgh played a blistering innings of 63 off just 23 balls under pressure and the Netherlands chased down the target in less than 14 overs to qualify for the Super 10s.

In the Super 10s, the left-hander almost led the Netherlands to a shock win over South Africa when he scored an impressive 51 off just 28 deliveries while chasing the Proteas’ total of 146. In their final game of the tournament against England, scored an important 39 to stabilize the Dutch innings and eventually, Netherlands defeated England by 45 runs to end their tournament on a high.

#5 Paul Stirling

Stirling is one of Ireland’s most explosive batsmen

One of Ireland’s best players, Paul Stirling deserves to ply his trade in the Indian Premier League. The 25-year old is an extremely aggressive batsman who you could say is Ireland’s version of Virender Sehwag who always goes for the big hit right from ball one.

Stirling has been an equally good bowler whose off-spin has frequently fetched wickets for him as well. At present, Stirling is Ireland’s second highest run scorer and their joint eighth highest wicket-taker in T20Is.

The enigmatic opener first came into recognition when he scored a match-winning century off just 70 deliveries against the Netherlands at the 2011 World Cup. he helped Ireland win the 2012 ICC World T20 qualifier, ending the tournament as the highest run scorer.

Stirling impressed again in the qualifiers of the following the T20 World Cup as well, being the third highest run getter and picking up 11 wickets at an economy rate of only 5.58 as Ireland retained their title. One of his most notable T20 performances, in fact, came in that qualifier.

In a group game against Hong Kong, Stirling scored an impressive 77 off just 46 balls and returned with bowling figures of 4-10 to set up a comprehensive win for Ireland. The swashbuckling batsman's most crucial T20 innings came against Zimbabwe at the 2014 world t20 where he hit 60 off just 34 balls in Ireland's successful chase.