Sharjah: Islamabad United and England’s Sam Billings, who played a blistering unbeaten knock of 78 to sink Quetta Gladiators at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Wednesday night, believes that the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Indian Premier League (IPL) and Big Bash have made him a better player.

Answering to a query on the impact of the Twenty20 leagues on his career, Billings said: “I went from the PSL last year to IPL and played in Big Bash as well. They are all fantastic tournaments. I get to play in different conditions and that makes you a much better player. It also helps soak in the different cultures and is a life experience, as valuable as the cricketing experience. So it’s great to be here and I am soaking up as much as possible.”

Twenty-five-year-old Billings is also in awe of the legends around him in the PSL and revealed that he was thrilled at having been able to face Pakistan’s legendary swing bowler Wasim Akram in the nets.

“Wasim is a legend of the game and he actually bowled to me in nets at ICC academy and he is still a genius. I might try and get him to sign for Kent this year [laughs]. I cannot speak high enough for the feeling we have got around the camp. It is fantastic. We have Brad Haddin and Shane Watson. Watching these guys and growing with them and sharing a changing room is fantastic. Australia versus England was a huge game... it’s much better to be in their side than on the opposition side. So sharing the dressing room with all different types of legends is fantastic.”

In fact, Billings added that seeing top players brings out the best in him too.

“All we have to do is to look around the field tonight. You have got Rilee Rossouw, Kevin Pietersen, Thisara Perera, Sarfraz Ahmad and Umar Gul, who all are internationals. Though this is a domestic tournament this is the closest thing you can get to near [enough] international cricket. For us guys coming over here and playing against top-quality spin bowling as well, it’s definitely going to help when you are playing international cricket in the subcontinent,” he said.

Talking about his knock and the conditions in Sharjah, Billings said: “It was a good pitch with small boundaries as well. It was nice to bat on. Pitch in Dubai against Lahore, the ball really came through with a bit of pace and bounce. Sharjah is kind of a bit slower. Ball sticking at pitch a little bit but it’s a good pitch with small boundaries and it was nice to bat on.”

Billings then went on to praise Watson’s knock, which helped ease the pressure of the runs chase. “Watson’s knock was the key, it helped the momentum to keep going, took the pressure off me. Our fifty runs partnerships is what you look for in Twenty 20 cricket. Watson is a world class player — he has showed it all around the world and he keeps on delivering for us and it’s fantastic.”