Aaqib Javed: “Usman Khan has been exceptional since he came back”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan Director of High-Performance Aaqib Javed has thrown his support behind big-hitting wicketkeeper-batsman Usman Khan, saying he has “been exceptional”.
He added that Usman has demonstrated the ability to thrive under pressure, while also making significant improvements in his wicketkeeping.
So far, Usman has featured in 38 T20Is and scored 474 runs, which includes two fifties, at an average of 18.96 and a strike-rate of 121.85.
He has also played two ODIs, scoring 51 runs at an average of 25.50.
Recently, Usman was in action in the 2026 Pakistan Super League (PSL), where he finished as the fourth-highest run-scorer with 389 runs in 13 matches for the Hyderabad Kingsmen, which included a century and three fifties, at an average of 35.36 and a strike-rate of 162.76.
“Usman Khan has been exceptional since he came back. He remained not out in three chases where we were losing wickets, and he has shown experience. His wicketkeeping is going probably better than expected,” Aaqib was quoted as saying by A Sports.
Pakistan recently took on Bangladesh in a two-Test series, which they lost 2-0, but Usman was not part of the squad.
He also missed out on selection for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia, which will be held in Rawalpindi and Lahore from May 30 to June 4.
Pakistan Squad for Australia ODI Series: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Maaz Sadaqat, Ghazi Ghori (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Rohail Nazir (wicketkeeper), Sahibzada Farhan, Shadab Khan, Shamyl Hussain, Sufyan Moqim