Babar Azam: “Usman needs to keep doing the things that got him here”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan white-ball captain Babar Azam has advised batting sensation Usman Khan to keep performing the way he was during the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Usman changed his allegiance from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Pakistan after PSL 9 as he was picked to play in the men in green’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand.
His form in the PSL made headlines everywhere as he was the second-highest run-scorer with 430 runs in seven matches for the Multan Sultans, which included two centuries and two fifties, at an average of 107.50 and a strike-rate of 164.12.
The 28-year-old ended up making his Pakistan debut in the T20I series against New Zealand and finished with 59 runs in five games at an average of 14.75 and a strike-rate of 122.91.
While he couldn’t replicate his form in PSL 9, Azam threw his support behind Usman and urged him to continue working hard.
“Usman needs to keep doing the things that got him here. We put expectations on every player. I expect certain things from myself as well as my players. It pleases me when a young player gets an opportunity and the senior players back him. We try and take young players under our wings because when you come to international cricket, you initially struggle and need support and confidence. And then those players go on to serve Pakistan,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
The T20I series between Pakistan and New Zealand ended as a 2-2 draw.
Pakistan Squad for New Zealand T20I Series: Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Amir, Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usama Mir, Usman Khan, Zaman Khan
Non-travelling reserves: Haseebullah Khan, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha
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