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Pakistan wicket-keeper batter Usman Khan opened up about his exclusion from the national side, saying he never blamed his country for his struggles.
During an interview with a private channel, Usman reflected on his exclusion from the national side, saying that he received comments suggesting he would never return and go back to UAE.
“When I was dropped from the Pakistan team, people told me that I would never make a comeback and that I had already been given enough chances, so I should go back to the UAE,” Usman said.
He admitted that it was his mistake that he couldn’t perform despite being given ample chances and used to tell others that Pakistan had provided him with sufficient opportunities.
“But I used to tell people that Pakistan had given me enough chances, it was my fault. It was my mistake that I couldn’t perform. Then I hired a personal trainer and improved my diet and fitness,” he added.
It is worth noting that Usman was banned by the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) for violating obligations and misrepresenting his intention to play for the UAE.
Yet, he made headlines in his breakthrough season in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9 as a foreign player, accumulating 430 runs at an average of 107 in seven matches, including two centuries.
The breakout season earned him a place in the squad for the home series against New Zealand and later in the T20 World Cup 2024 team.
The 30-year-old was dropped from the national side after the away series against New Zealand in 2025.
Overall, Usman has played 110 T20s, amassing 2767 runs at a strike rate of 145, including six centuries. On the contrary, he has struggled on an international level, managing only 474 runs in 38 T20Is at a strike rate of 121.
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