Azhar Mahmood: “We always talk about showing intent. The way Usman Khan showed intent… was pleasant to watch. He played some good shots but couldn’t perform the way we wanted him to. But intent-wise, he was spot on”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan assistant coach Azhar Mahmood has praised new batting sensation Usman Khan for “showing intent” in his recent performances.
He noted that while it is “pleasant to watch”, he wants the 29-year-old to score more runs since he is a top order batsman.
Usman earned a call-up to the Pakistan team after dominating in the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL), where he finished as the second-highest run-scorer.
In the seven games he played for the Multan Sultans, he amassed 430 runs, which included two centuries and two fifties, at an average of 107.50 and a strike-rate of 164.12.
After PSL 9, Usman made his international debut in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand and accumulated 59 runs in five games at an average of 14.75 and a strike-rate of 122.91.
“We always talk about showing intent. The way Usman Khan showed intent… was pleasant to watch. He played some good shots but couldn’t perform the way we wanted him to. But intent-wise, he was spot on,” Mahmood was quoted as saying by Geo Super.
Usman is now involved in Pakistan’s three-match T20I series against Ireland, which is tied at 1-1 going into the third game on May 14.
Following this series, Pakistan will play four T20Is against England from May 22 to May 30.
Pakistan Squad for Ireland and England T20I Series: Babar Azam (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan
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