Shadab Khan: “Usama made his debut. He got here after consistent T20 performances in the toughest leagues. Criticism only after 1 game and that too at a difficult ground for spinners is harsh. Usama is gifted and talented enough to bounce back”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan spin-bowling all-rounder Shadab Khan has defended fellow spinner Usama Mir, saying he is “gifted and talented enough to bounce back.”
Mir has been struggling to take wickets consistently, which has been a problem that has plagued Shadab as well.
Having seen the amount of criticism being directed towards the 28-year-old, Shadab feels the Sialkot native is being treated unfairly.
“Usama made his debut. He got here after consistent T20 performances in the toughest leagues. Criticism only after 1 game and that too at a difficult ground for spinners is harsh. Usama is gifted and talented enough to bounce back,” he said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Most recently, Mir featured in Pakistan’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand and took two wickets in three games at an average of 55.50 and an economy rate of 9.25.
Shadab missed the series with an ankle injury and will now captain Islamabad United in the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL), while Mir will play for the Multan Sultans.
PSL 9 will take place from February 17 to March 18 in four cities – Lahore, Multan, Karachi and Rawalpindi.
Islamabad United Squad for PSL 9: Shadab Khan (captain), Naseem Shah, Imad Wasim, Azam Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Alex Hales, Colin Munro, Rumman Raees, Matthew Forde, Salman Ali Agha, Qasim Akram, Shahab Khan, Hunain Shah, Ubaid Shah, Shamyl Hussain, Tom Curran (reserved), Obed McCoy, Haider Ali
Multan Sultans Squad for PSL 9: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Usama Mir, Abbas Afridi, Ihsanullah, Faisal Akram, David Willey, Dawid Malan, Reece Topley, Reeza Hendricks, Tayyab Tahir, Shahnawaz Dahani, Mohammad Ali, Usman Khan, Yasir Khan, Chris Jordan, Aftab Ibrahim, Johnson Charles, Mohammad Shahzad
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