Sixers’ perfect response to crisis

The men in magenta have lost Tom Curran and Ben Manenti to season-ending injuries, while Chris Jordan’s five-game contract ran out after the win over the Adelaide Strikers on Tuesday.A calf injury is also keeping veteran spinner Steve O’Keefe sidelined for the short term.Having already picked up young spinner Todd Murphy in the past week, the Sixers gave fans another early Christmas present on December 24, announcing that Khan, who has played for Pakistan internationally in all three formats of the game, would come into the side.Watch every game of the KFC Big Bash League Live & On-Demand on Kayo or catch up for FREE with minis on Kayo Freebies. Join Kayo Now >Pakistan was one of the tournament heavyweights at the T20 World Cup earlier this year, and Khan played all six of the side’s games.He was Pakistan’s most damaging bowler in the semi-final clash with Australia, dismissing Mitch Marsh, Steve Smith, David Warner and Glenn Maxwell with an impressive haul of 4-26.In total, he’s taken 73 wickets from his 64 T20I appearances for Pakistan and previously represented the Brisbane Heat in BBL|07.Khan is completing three days of hotel quarantine in Sydney and, pending a negative Covid-19 test result ahead of his release on Boxing Day, could line up for the Sixers in the Sydney Smash against the Sydney Thunder that day.On his release from hotel quarantine, Khan will be unable to high-five teammates or congregate with them indoors until he completes a four-day integration period, after which he will enter the Sixers’ bubble.Sixers coach Greg Shipperd said he looked forward to working with Khan.“Shadab joins us as cover for the bowlers we have lost and comes together with two other young and exciting spinners in Lloyd Pope and Todd Murphy,” he said.“All three young men are still learning their craft but have shown at various levels that they can be world class.“We welcome Shadab’s skills in all three facets of the game and can’t wait to see him get an opportunity in coming matches.”Shipperd said his troops were primed for an intense contest in the Sydney Smash at the Thunder’s home deck, Sydney Showground Stadium.“Those cross-town rivalries are certainly fierce between the Thunder and the Sixers,” he said. “Nothing will change. On their home patch, they’re always a difficult team to play as they understand the nuances of the shape of the ground particularly well. We’re going to have to be right up there to compete with them, as normal.” Via news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site https://www.news.com.au