Tait said the visit provided a valuable opportunity to assess emerging talent and watch players he would not normally get to observe while working with the national team. He was particularly impressed by young fast bowler Ali Shabbir, praising his pace, rhythm and improvement.
Opportunity to Assess New Talent
The former Australian fast bowler said spending a few days watching cricket outside the international setup had allowed him to evaluate several players and exchange views with local coaches.
Tait, who has visited Islamabad Club on previous occasions, described the venue as an excellent place to watch the game.
He said the experience was useful because it brought him closer to players with different levels of experience, including established Pakistan internationals and those hoping to earn national selection.
According to Tait, some of the players had already represented Pakistan, while others were considered close to earning an opportunity at the international level.
He added that observing cricketers with considerable first-class experience was particularly important, as the demands of international cricket often limited opportunities to follow every domestic prospect.
Ali Shabbir Impresses Tait
Fast bowler Ali Shabbir was among the players who caught Tait’s attention during the matches.
The bowling coach said he had previously worked with Shabbir during his time with Lahore Qalandars in the Global Super League (GSL) and had always enjoyed watching him bowl.
Tait praised the young pacer’s ability to consistently generate good speed, saying he regularly bowls in the mid-140 kilometres-per-hour range.
He also noted that Shabbir displayed an impressive rhythm during the match and appeared to have improved since their previous interaction.
“I told him yesterday he’s looking even better than when I last saw him, so that’s a good sign,” Tait said.
His assessment suggests that Shabbir’s development has attracted attention from the national team’s coaching staff.
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Kusal Mendis Among Players Observed
Tait also acknowledged the quality of other cricketers participating in the matches, including Sri Lankan batter Kusal Mendis.
He said Mendis had batted well on one of the days and described several players in the group as established, high-quality performers.
The bowling coach added that the event also allowed him to observe some players whose abilities he had not previously had much opportunity to assess.
The presence of international cricketers alongside domestic prospects made the experience particularly useful for evaluating talent across different levels.
Tait Backs Pakistan’s Bowling Resources
Despite praising individual performances, Tait said his biggest takeaway from the visit was the overall strength of Pakistan’s bowling options.
The former Australia international expressed confidence in the country’s bowling line-up and its available resources.
“Look I’m confident in the Pakistan bowling lineup that’s for sure,” he said.
Tait’s comments underline his positive assessment of Pakistan’s bowling depth as the coaching staff continues to monitor emerging players and evaluate potential options for the national team.
