- Usman Khan will be a part of the Pakistan team.
- PCB said he was a UAE citizen due to which he was not selected.
- He scored two centuries for Multan Sultans.
Usman Khan, the hard-hitting batsman who turned heads by scoring two centuries in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), is not in the running for the series against New Zealand.
The selectors from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have acknowledged Usman’s outstanding performance in the PSL but stated that he cannot be chosen for the Pakistan national team as he has relocated to the UAE and is no longer eligible to represent the national team. Hence, he is not under consideration for national team selection.
Usman hit a century against Islamabad United on Sunday, and prior to that, he scored a hundred against Karachi Kings. Against Lahore Qalandars, he was dismissed after scoring 96 runs. In the previous PSL season, Usman made waves by scoring a century in just 36 balls against Quetta Gladiators.
Meanwhile, the preparations for the series against New Zealand are in progress. The national team camp will commence from March 25 at Abbottabad’s Kakul Academy, and the announcement of the twenty-five member squad is expected to be made on March 19 or 20.
According to insiders, the selectors believe that while the young players have shown excellent performances in PSL 9, these performances were only in one or two matches. There is no player who has consistently performed in every match and won everyone’s admiration.
It’s important to note that the New Zealand team is anticipated to arrive in Pakistan on April 14. Three matches will take place in Rawalpindi Stadium, while two matches will be held in Gaddafi Stadium Lahore.
