Wahab Riaz: “Usman Khan has justified his talent in PSL9. He is not included in [the] Pakistan cricket team with any fluke”
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Pakistan selector Wahab Riaz has insisted that batsman Usman Khan’s selection wasn’t a “fluke” as he earned his spot in the side.
Usman switched allegiance from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Pakistan after being called up to the national team following a stellar campaign in the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Representing the Multan Sultans, the 29-year-old scored 430 runs in seven matches, which included two centuries and two fifties, at an average of 107.50 and a strike-rate of 164.12.
He made his international debut in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand, amassing 59 runs at an average of 14.75 and a strike-rate of 122.91.
Despite not featuring in the three-match T20I series against Ireland that followed, Wahab reiterated that Usman “justified his talent in PSL 9” and deserves to be part of the Pakistan team.
“Usman Khan has justified his talent in PSL9. He is not included in [the] Pakistan cricket team with any fluke,” he was quoted as saying by journalist Arfa Feroz Zake on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Pakistan are now involved in a four-match T20I series against England, which is tied at 0-0 after the first match was washed out.
Afterwards, they will participate in the 2024 T20 World Cup, which will be held in the West Indies and United States of America from June 1 to 29.
Pakistan’s first T20 World Cup game will be against the United States of America in Dallas on June 6.
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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