Babar Azam: “The thing about the Pakistan team is that there is pressure. I know that Usman has left so many things, so all of that would be in the back of his mind. But he has made every effort”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan limited overs captain Babar Azam has defended new batting sensation Usman Khan, saying he is giving his full effort despite not having impressed at the international level so far.
Usman switched allegiance from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Pakistan after the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL), where he stole the spotlight by scoring 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.
Having dominated throughout PSL 9, the 29-year-old was fast-tracked into the Pakistan team for the five-match T20I series against New Zealand in April 2024, where he made his international debut and finished with 59 runs at an average of 14.75 and a strike-rate of 122.91.
Following this, Usman did not feature in the team’s three-match T20I series against Ireland, even though he was in the squad.
However, he did play one T20I against England and scored 38 runs.
Azam noted that Usman will be under pressure to perform right from the get-go, but urged people to give the Karachi-born batsman some time to prove himself.
“See, you have to give margin. The thing about the Pakistan team is that there is pressure. I know that Usman has left so many things, so all of that would be in the back of his mind. But he has made every effort. Look, as a player, whenever you make a debut, you try to stabilise your innings after 2 innings, but the kind of intent he showed, which was also required from him. Performing is not in anyone’s control. On the day that it is your day, you will perform,” he was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
Usman is currently featuring in the 2024 T20 World Cup and accumulated 18 runs in three games at an average of nine and a strike-rate of 94.73.
Pakistan lost their first two games against the United States of America and India before bouncing back to defeat Canada by seven wickets.
They will now go up against Ireland on June 16 in Lauderhill.
Pakistan Squad for 2024 T20 World Cup: Babar Azam (capt), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan (wk), Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Abbas Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
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