Shane Warne says Brisbane Heat spinner Zahir Khan will be a handful for BBL batsmen

No one knows spin bowling like Shane Warne. These are the five tweakers the legendary leg-spinner recommends you have in your SuperCoach BBL team.

Spin king Shane Warne has predicted Brisbane Heat signing Zahir Khan will become the latest Afghan spinner to bamboozle Big Bash League batsmen.

Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman have enjoyed success in the BBL in recent summers and Warne expects Khan to achieve similar results.

Warne said the 20-year-old, who has taken 51 wickets in 40 career T20s, had the talent to take the BBL by storm.

“This guy, no one will be able to pick,” Warne said.

“If he stays fit and his shoulder is right, he will dominate the competition.”

The left-arm leg-spin bowler has featured in T20 and T10 tournaments around the world this year, including the West Indies, Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates.

Warne and Khan have worked together at Indian Premier League franchise Rajasthan Royals.

Brisbane can only name two of its three international signings, with Khan to feature in the opening eight games before Ur Rahman arrives after playing in the Bangladesh Premier League.

England’s Tom Banton will open the batting for the Heat before being replaced mid-tournament by AB De Villiers.

Rashid Khan jumps for joy after snaring a wicket for Adelaide Strikers.

Here’s Shane Warne’s five spinners to watch in BBL09:

1. Rashid Khan (Adelaide Strikers) $203,300, BWL

Adelaide’s lethal leg-spinner has snared 37 wickets in the past two seasons, establishing himself as the BBL’s No.1. The only issue will be Adelaide has a Round 1 bye in SuperCoach BBL.

Warne says: “When we starts bowling fast, he’s so hard to pick. He just turns them subtely. He’s not a huge turner of the ball. But he’s got a wrong’un that no one picks.”

2. Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Brisbane Heat) $158,200, BWL

Mujeeb had the best economy rate of any bowler with 10 wickets or more in BBL08, conceding 6.04 runs an over. He’s expected to start his stint this summer with six games to play and would be eligible for finals after featuring in the Bangladesh Premier League.

Warne says: “He’s got all sorts of mystery stuff. He makes it go both ways. That’s what you need to do as a spinner.”

Shane Warne expects Zahir Khan to have a huge impact in BBL09.

3. Zahir Khan (Brisbane Heat) $169,000, BWL

Khan will be Brisbane Heat’s spinner for the opening eight games, with Englishman Tom Banton to open the batting as Brisbane’s second international. Left-arm leg-spinners have been rare in the BBL but his career record demands respect. He has a strike rate of 17 and [51 wickets in 40 T20 games.

Warne says: “If he stays fit and his shoulder is right, he will dominate the competition.”

4. Cameron Boyce (Melbourne Renegades) $171,000, BWL

Boyce enjoyed his best BBL campaign after switching to the Renegades, taking 16 wickets from as many games. The Renegades don’t have a SuperCoach BBL double until Round 5.

Warne says: “I reckon he could challenge for an Australian spot too for T20 cricket. He’s very, very good. Even one-day cricket.”

Fawad Ahmed has crossed from Sydney Thunder to Perth Scorchers, where he will have a prominent role to play.

5. Fawad Ahmed (Perth Scorchers) $113,000 BWL

Ahmed will be the senior bowler in Perth’s attack with Jason Behrendorff and Andrew Tye sidelined by injury and Nathan Coulter-Nile moving to Melbourne Stars. He’s cheap enough to stockpile until the Scorchers’ Round 3 double.

Warne says: “I think he’s very underrated. He’s got a good wrong’un. He’s got a good temperament. More importantly, he’s hungry to do well.”

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Originally published as Shane Warne says Brisbane Heat spinner Zahir Khan will be a handful for BBL batsmen