Bowlers will need to prepare for the worst when Qalandars batsman Ben Dunk takes the crease in The Abu Dhabi T10 because the hard-hitting Australian is looking for nothing less than boundaries in the upcoming tournament.
Ben Dunk, the short format veteran who has played over 150 T20s, believes the ‘ideal’ batting approach in The Abu Dhabi T10 is to hit fours and sixes.
“That seems to be the ideal way to go batting in such a short period of time. I’m not sure where I’ll bat in the order but wherever that is, I’ll try and do my best to clear the boundary,” Ben Dunk told The Abu Dhabi T10.
The 33-year-old globe-trotting Australian already has a knack for sending the ball past the ropes since he is a seasoned batter in T20s, which also demands an attacking mindset similar to T10.
“The good thing about my game is that in the last couple of years I have had the ability to clear the boundaries, so I’m hoping that transfers nicely into T10,” said Ben Dunk, who has been playing T20 cricket regularly since the last few months in the Caribbean Premier League, Pakistan Super League and Big Bash League.
At Qalandars, Ben Dunk will be joined by one of the flamboyant stroke players of all-time, Shahid Afridi, who is also the team’s Icon Player.
“Shahid Afridi is an amazing cricketer. I have grown up watching Shahid Afridi. He just keeps going and going.”
However, the Tasmanian wicket-keeper batsman is particularly excited to team up with young Englishman Tom Banton and rates him highly for his sublime batting expertise at a young age.
“I’m really excited to play with Tom Banton. I’ve come across him a couple of times in the Big Bash and PSL, but we have never been in the same team so I’m excited to see him up and close and see how he works,” Dunk said.
“Tom Banton is an exciting player whom I think we are going to watch for a long period of time.”
Once Ben Dunk is done with The Abu Dhabi T10, which he reckons the Qalandars will win, he wants to enjoy some time at the lush green golf courses of Abu Dhabi.
“I am a mad, keen golfer and I know this part of the world has some of the best golf courses, so I’m hoping I can get some time to experience them,” he signed off.
The Qalandars play their first match of the tournament against the Pune Devils on January 29 at 4 pm (Abu Dhabi time).
