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Son of a gun signs on for BBL|08

Pakistani spinner Usman Qadir joins David Willey as an import at Perth Scorchers this season

Pakistani leg spinner Usman Qadir, the son of legendary Test spinner Abdul Qadir, has signed with Perth Scorchers for the upcoming KFC BBL season.

The 26-year-old leggie, who is based in Sydney and played NSW Premier Cricket last season, joins Englishman David Willey as one of two overseas players at the Scorchers for BBL|08.

With regular spinner Ashton Agar one of several Perth players expected to miss parts of this season due to international duty, new Scorchers coach Adam Voges said he was keen to have another frontline spinner in his squad.

"We are looking at some cover for Ashton Agar," Voges said in the West Australian.

"We got found out in the semi-final last year when he was unavailable.

"We took the decision last year that our squad was strong enough not to need a second international, but with the success we have had, and the number of guys who will be playing for Australia during the Big Bash period, we will need some cover."

Qadir represented Pakistan at the 2010 Under-19 World Cup at the age of just 16, but has been unable to establish himself in the country of his birth.

Having made a permanent move to Australia following what he believed was unfair treatment by Pakistan selectors, the leg-spinner has expressed a desire to one day represent his adopted country.

"My goal is clear - I plan to represent Australia in the World Twenty20 in 2020 in Australia," he said earlier this year.

"I wish to use the same process of acquiring the 'Distinguished Talent Visa', which Fawad Ahmed also used to allow him to play for Australia. This visa allows any talented sportsman to gain permanent residency in Australia and this is the path I wish to follow as well."

Qadir's father played 67 Tests and 104 ODIs for Pakistan in a distinguished 16-year international career and took 368 wickets at the top level.

The signing of Qadir means the Scorchers have just one remaining spot on their roster to fill ahead of the summer.

Perth Scorchers

Current squad: Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendorff, Hilton Cartwright, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Michael Klinger, Mitchell Marsh (c), Shaun Marsh, Joel Paris, Usman Qadir (Pakistan), Jhye Richardson, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Sam Whiteman, David Willey (England)

In: Usman Qadir (Pakistan)

Out: Mitchell Johnson (retired), Adam Voges (retired/coach)

Internationals signed: Two

Spots to fill: One

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