Sohaib Maqsood: “Unpopular opinion but I think Usman Khan should be part of [the] Pakistan ODI setup too. We lack power-hitters in our country so at least try batters who have different and unorthodox areas of scoring runs on good length balls”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan batsman Sohaib Maqsood believes big-hitter Usman Khan should be in the ODI team going forward.
Explaining why, he noted that Usman brings some much-needed firepower, which he feels is lacking in the squad right now.
So far, the 29-year-old has represented Pakistan in 18 T20Is and scored 232 runs at an average of 15.46 and a strike-rate of 122.75.
“Unpopular opinion but I think Usman Khan should be part of [the] Pakistan ODI setup too. We lack power-hitters in our country so at least try batters who have different and unorthodox areas of scoring runs on good length balls like Usman and Tayyab (Tahir),” Maqsood said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Usman featured in Pakistan’s T20I series against Australia and scored 59 runs in three matches, which included a career-best knock of 52, at an average of 19.66.
He then played in three T20Is against Zimbabwe and mustered 44 runs at an average of 22.
As for the three-match T20I series against South Africa, the Karachi native only managed to make 12 runs in two games at an average of six.
Pakistan and South Africa are now playing a two-Test series, which the Proteas lead 1-0 after securing a two-wicket win in the 1st Test in Centurion.
The 2nd Test will get underway on January 3 in Cape Town.
Pakistan Squad for South Africa T20I Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa ODI Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa Test Series: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha
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