Islamabad United's Jordan Cox lauds talent pool in Pakistan, likens PSL to IPL

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad United’s English cricketer Jordan Cox wants to use the Pakistan Super League (PSL) to push himself forward in contention to play for England as he believes that he needs to improve his skills further before being on the ballot for representing England which remains his ultimate goal.

In an exclusive interview with Geo News, Cox shared insights into his experience with the franchise, his aspirations, and his views on the league's standard and local talent.

"Having joined Islamabad United for the PSL ninth edition," Cox expressed his admiration for the franchise and its head coach, Mike Hesson. He commended the team's performance despite facing challenges and emphasised the importance of securing victories for the fans.

"Islamabad United is a great franchise been here for four games out of the five and really enjoyed my time here. Hesson is a great head coach really enjoyed playing under him. The boys are slowly playing some good cricket obviously to lose a few games has been quite tough but to get two games four points is positive and hopefully one tomorrow," the 23-year-old said ahead of United’s game against Gladiators.

Regarding the prospect of playing at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Islamabad United's home ground, Cox expressed enthusiasm despite the possibility of rain affecting matches. He recalled the electrifying atmosphere witnessed during his previous stint with Lahore Qalandars and hoped to replicate similar support for his side.

When asked about the high-scoring nature of Rawalpindi, the English player acknowledged the venue's potential and highlighted his role as a finisher in the team. He stressed the significance of contributing to team victories over personal accolades.

"You know, for where I'm batting at the minute is a finishing roll. So to get the boys over line in a couple games will be awesome. And at the end of the day, it's not about you know, own successes, it is cool, it's nice to have but I've much taken over wins and my own success for sure," he said.

In terms of personal goals for PSL 9, Cox reiterated his sole focus on clinching the trophy with Islamabad United, prioritising team success over individual achievements.

"No personal goals none at all. To lift the trophy, I lifted the trophy last year with Lahore and hoping to lift it this year as an Islamabad United player, it would be pretty awesome," he expressed.

Comparing PSL with other global cricket leagues, Cox lauded the talent pool in Pakistan, likening it to the Indian Premier League (IPL). He praised the platform provided by PSL for young players to showcase their skills alongside seasoned professionals.

Assessing the local young talent, Cox emphasised quality over age and applauded the rapid development of young cricketers in Pakistan.

Talking about his aspirations to represent England in the upcoming World Cup, Cox acknowledged the need for further skill development but expressed his desire to don the national jersey in the future.

"I'm always trying to play for England that's the goal, being 23 to play for England anytime soon be pretty cool as the World Cup is around the corner, but I don't think I'm on the ballot for that really, I don't think yet. I think I need to develop more skills and show that I'm capable of playing for England. So, I'll try my best in this competition to push myself forward. But I'm not putting myself on that list," he said.

In a message to Islamabad United fans, Cox extended a heartfelt invitation for their unwavering support, expressing the team's eagerness to deliver stellar performances and maintain an unbeaten streak at Rawalpindi.