Shahid Afridi: “Usman Khan and Mohammad Hasnain are not being given opportunities. They have been warming the bench for a long time”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Iconic Pakistan big-hitter Shahid Afridi wants batsman Usman Khan and fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain to be given more opportunities going forward.
He noted that the duo “have been warming the bench for a long time” and deserve the chance to showcase their skills at the international level.
Usman and Hasnain have been used sporadically as of late, but remain in and around the national set-up.
Hasnain was not involved in Pakistan’s limited overs tour of New Zealand, but Usman featured in both the T20I and ODI series.
In the one T20I he played, he scored seven runs.
As for the ODI series, the 30-year-old amassed 51 runs in two games at an average of 25.50.
“Usman Khan and Mohammad Hasnain are not being given opportunities. They have been warming the bench for a long time,” Afridi was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
Most recently, Usman represented the Multan Sultans in the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL) and made 213 runs in eight games, which included a top score of 61, at an average of 26.62 and a strike-rate of 147.91.
As for Hasnain, he also played for the Sultans in PSL 10 and took three wickets in five matches at an average of 52 and an economy rate of 9.75.
Pakistan are now taking on Bangladesh in a three-match T20I series, but neither Usman nor Hasnain were included in the squad.
The men in green won the 1st T20I by 37 runs and will look to secure an unassailable 2-0 series lead in the 2nd T20I, which will be played on May 30 in Lahore.
Pakistan Squad for Bangladesh T20I Series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper) and Saim Ayub
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