DUBAI: Former Zimb­abwe captain and ex Eng­land coach Andy Flower said on Sunday the Paki­stan Super League (PSL) Twenty20 competition can benefit the country’s budding players in the same way Indians have benefitted from their league.

The 47-year-old, who is now looking after Eng­land’s youth side and is serving as Peshawar Zalmi coach in the PSL, said: “I think this tournament will be very good for Pakistan’s youngsters in the way the IPL [Indian Premier League] is being very good for Indian cricket.

“I think there are five excellent sides and we should have brilliant cric­ket over the next couple of weeks and we have seen skilful performance and there is a lot of talent.”

The PSL have 69 local and 29 foreign players, with high profile names in West Indian Chris Gayle and Darren Sammy, former England batsman Kevin Pietersen and Australia’s Shane Watson.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) aims to boost the national team — currently eighth in one-day and seventh in Twenty20 rankings — and to groom some young players.

“I think it’s an interesting initiative by PCB and its important for Pakistan cricket and that it is a success. It has started successfully,” said Flower, who played 63 Tests and 213 one-day for Zimbabwe during an illustrious career and later became a successful England coach.

“The PSL is absolutely a launching pad for Pak­istan youngsters, some of the benefits they get by mixing with overseas players and gain from their experience and they also get confidence by sharing the same nets and dressing room,” the Zimbabwean added.

He singled out Peshawar’s left-arm spinner Mohammad Asghar as a player for the future.

“The very good example is Asghar and his performance will do him a world of good,” said Flower of the spinner who has taken five wickets for just 31 runs in eight overs in his team’s two wins.

“The other factor is that the league might take away some of the myths of some of the international cricketers and allow the youngsters to understand that they are also human beings like them who are good at playing cricket and that can grow their confidence,” said Flower.

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2016