LAHORE: England fast bowler Tymal Mills has expressed his excitement about coming back to the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and being part of Islamabad United for the 9th edition of the tournament.
In an exclusive interview with Geo News, the 31-year-old opened up about his return to the league, the standard of play, and his hopes for the future.
"It's great to be back here," Mills expressed his enthusiasm for joining Islamabad United, reflecting on his familiarity with several players, Mills stated, "Quite a few guys I knew already," highlighting his camaraderie with Azam and Shadab, both on and off the field.
Reflecting on the role of franchise leagues in shaping players' understanding of each other's strengths and weaknesses, Mills acknowledged the mutual benefits while emphasising the competitive edge it adds to the game.
“It helps but then it also works the other way as well because, you know, batters and stuff, know what I'm doing. But I also learn about what they are doing. So yeah, it's great. It helps with gelling quickly when you have guys that you already know. And yeah, it has its advantages on the field,” he said.
Regarding the standard of the PSL, Mills commended the high level of competition, especially since the tournament's return to Pakistan.
Mills also lauded the abundance of fast-bowling talent in Pakistan.
“Obviously, the local bowlers, there are lots of them. There's lots of high-paced bowling and, and so far in the competition, the games have been pretty close. There's been quite a few games that have gone down to the last couple of balls. So that's what you want from franchise competition,” he said.
“They're both really good kids, and they're learning a lot. And it's great that obviously, with the emerging player rule, they get the opportunity to play because the best way to learn is to play,” he said, referring to Ubaid and Hunain – two younger brothers of Naseem Shah.
When asked about his goals in the PSL, Mills stated his ambition to win the tournament while also emphasising the importance of mentoring younger players.
On his aspirations to represent England again, Mills remained hopeful, citing his recent participation in recent series in the West Indies and expressing his desire to be part of the upcoming T20 World Cup squad.
Regarding favourites for the T20 World Cup, Mills identified England and the West Indies as strong contenders, particularly emphasising the latter's formidable batting lineup.
Faizan Lakhani Faizan Lakhani is Deputy Editor (Sports) at Geo News.
