ISLAMABAD: Ihsanullah, Pakistan’s latest pace sensation and the leading wicket-taker in this year’s Pakistan Super League (PSL) 8th edition, on Thursday expressed his ambition to bowl the fastest-ever delivery in the PSL, hitting the 160-kph mark.

The PSL has served as a launching pad for some of Pakistan’s most remarkable T20 cricket stars such as Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, and Zaman Khan, to name a few.

While this year’s PSL has unearthed a host of batting talents such as Saim Ayub, Tayyab Tahir, and Haseebullah Khan, 20-year-old fast bowler Ihsanullah is arguably the most exciting PSL 8 discovery so far.

For one, the Multan Sultans’ pacer has clocked in the fastest delivery in PSL8 so far, at 152.7kph. In a tournament featuring the likes of Naseem Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Rauf, and Afridi, that is no easy feat.

On the other hand, he’s also bowled the fastest four-over bowling spell in PSL history, clocking in an average speed of 144.37kph in the Sultans’ match against Quetta Gladiators on February 15. He broke Rauf’s previous fastest spell record of 144.16kph against Peshawar Zalmi in PSL 7.

With an impressive 18 wickets from 8 matches, Ihsanullah is also this year’s leading PSL wicket-taker so far. But the lanky 6ft 4 pacer isn’t quite done yet and there’s one other record he wants to break.

“As you know, I have bowled the fastest delivery in this year’s PSL till now, 152.7 [kph] or something,” Ihsanullah told Arab News in an exclusive interview.

“God willing, I will try to bowl the fastest delivery of this year’s PSL, in fact, bowl the fastest delivery of all PSLs that have taken place till now.”

Lahore Qalandars pacer Rauf bowled the fastest PSL ball last year, when he bowled a delivery at 153.8kph.

“God willing, I will hit the 160kph mark,” he added.

Born in Arkot village in northwest Pakistan’s Swat Valley, Ihsanullah impressed scouts at the Kamyab Jawan Sports Drive talent program last year.

He was recommended to three PSL franchises, out of which Sultans were the ones to pick him in the PSL 2022. Ihsanullah got injured after playing in his second PSL match against Lahore Qalandars and was ruled out for the remainder of the tournament.

However, it was this year that the bowler made a big splash. After taking two wickets in the PSL 8 opener against the Qalandars, Ihsanullah demolished Quetta Gladiators by taking five wickets on February 15 and giving away only 12 runs.

Known for his trademark “archer celebration” (going down on one knee to shoot an imaginary arrow from a bow“) after taking a wicket, Ihsanullah says bowling fast is a God-given ability.

“When I first came here [to play in the PSL], I bowled a delivery at 139[kph] in PSL 7,” he said, adding that he worked with the Sultans’ bowling coaches and management to increase his pace. 

“Thank God, you can see my pace now. I am touching 150kph in every match,” he added.

Ihsanullah spoke highly of Sultans’ skipper Muhammad Rizwan, saying that the right-handed opening batter never scolds his teammates when they make mistakes on the field.

“He’s never scolded me, thank God, and has always appreciated me and it was because of him that I took the five wickets [against Quetta Gladiators] that day,” Ihsanullah said.

While his fiery pace may instill fear into the hearts of batters who face him, Ihsanullah insists he isn’t afraid of any batter.

“I don’t consider any batsman dangerous because I work on the plan given to me by my coaches and the management,” he said.