Pakistani speed bowler Zaman Khan received wide recognition from Pakistan team director Mickey Arthur for his impressive bowling skills during the first game of the ongoing T20 Vitality Blast in the UK.

Mickey Arthur has praised the bowling performances of Pakistani fast bowler Zaman Khan in the opening game of the T20 Blast tournament.

Arthur, who is Chief of Cricket at Derbyshire Cricket Club and also director of the Pakistan cricket team, spoke to the media after Derbyshire Falcons were defeated by Lancashire Lightning in their opening game.

Speaking to the media, Mickey Arthur explained that the Derbyshire Club needed a bowler like Zaman Khan, who had a variation in bowling and could use his skills effectively.

Arthur, who is also the Pakistan team director, said the right-arm pacer is a skilled bowler who will reinforce the bowling unit in the current edition of Vitality Blast.

"He has the skills we need. He bowls an incredibly good, fast Yorker. He's a good rebound and a very good slower ball and those are the skills we need," said Arthur.

Arthur added that Zaman has the ability to bowl during batting power plays and also stem runs in the death overs, which bodes well for the bowling session in this event.

“The key is that it fits what we needed. We needed someone who could throw two overs on the power play and then two on death. When we looked at our squad we thought we were gone and he can do it and does it incredibly well. We're struggling a bit with his English but actually we're very lucky to have him," he added.

The bowler joined the Derbyshire squad on Thursday and completed a single training session at Incora County Ground, home of Derbyshire Cricket. Shortly after, he was used immediately in the opener of Saturday's T20 Blast against Lancashire at Edgbaston. He conceded 41 runs and picked two wickets.

Zaman will play their second game of the season on Friday 26 May when Derbyshire Falcons take on nearby Nottinghamshire Outlaws at Trent Bridge.