Usama Mir Archives

Usama Mir breaks silence on selection snub amid fitness concerns

Pakistan’s leg-spinner Usama Mir has expressed his frustration over being overlooked for the national team, citing concerns regarding his fitness.

Mir expressed frustration over selection snubs, emphasizing his past performances in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) during an interview with a sports platform.

“When I’m available, I don’t get selected—so what’s left to say about anything else? I just don’t understand it,” he said.

“I was the highest wicket-taker in last year’s PSL, yet I wasn’t picked. This year, although I didn’t perform at that level, there were still players with worse performances who got selected. It’s very clear to me now,” Usama Mir added.

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The 29-year-old cricketer, who made his debut for Pakistan in January 2023, discussed his fitness and efforts to return to the national team.

“Even today, I still hold the record for the most wickets in a single PSL season over ten editions—but despite that, I wasn’t picked. If you look at my last match performance, people still say, ‘You won us that game—how did you get dropped after that?’ I can’t understand it either,” he recalled.

“After that, I worked extremely hard. They made fitness an excuse. I was told I failed the fitness test, so I trained hard.

I was captain of the Sialkot team; the trainers, the head coach—all can vouch for me. Even opposition teams were surprised by how much effort I was putting in,” Usama Mir revealed.

Usama Mir rued the things that happened to him, remaining in disbelief on how his career had progressed so far.

“These are the kind of things that happened with me, and I’m genuinely shocked as to why. I have proof of everything I’ve said,” he concluded.

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Usama Mir opens up about possibility of playing for England

Pakistan leg-spinner Usama Mir has shared his thoughts on a potential England call-up as he is expected to obtain citizenship in the United Kingdom (UK) by 2027.

The Sialkot-born spinner has recently signed a three-year T20 deal with Worcestershire County Cricket Club (WCCC) and will be eligible to play as a local player in 2027.

The deal will see Mir join Worcestershire as an overseas player for the 2026 season, before becoming classed as a homegrown player from 2027 onwards.

Speaking during an interview with a local sports platform, Mir expressed confidence in his chances of playing for the England national team.

“This is something way ahead — I honestly don’t know much about it. And I think there’s also a time period required to become internationally qualified, so I really don’t know what the scenario would be,” he said.

“But if I get an offer to play international cricket elsewhere, I will definitely try to avail it — because a cricketer’s job is to play cricket. And if you’re getting the chance to play at the highest level, then why not?” he added.

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Usama Mir lamented his exclusion from the national team’s setup and emphasized the need for a better future to move ahead.

“Obviously, it’s a dream to play for your own country and to keep playing for it. But I don’t understand why I’m not being considered in the plans. I have to think about myself too, about my family,” Mir stated.

“I’m not going to get stuck here — just keep playing domestic cricket and keep waiting without getting any security or stability.

The 29-year-old concluded by highlighting more global opportunities, stating that he will embrace such chances to play quality cricket.

“On the other hand, if I’m getting opportunities to play and to play good cricket — hopefully I’ll come to play county leagues and other leagues as well — then those opportunities should be availed.”

For the unversed, Usama Mir has played in 12 ODIs and 5 T20Is for Pakistan. His last appearance in the 50-over format came in 2023 against New Zealand, whereas he played his previous T20I on 27 April 2024 against the same team.

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Usama Mir set to join Worcestershire on three-year deal

Pakistan leg-spinner Usama Mir has signed a three-year T20 deal with Worcestershire, after which he will transition to a local player in 2027.

Worcestershire County Cricket Club are delighted to announce the signing of Pakistan international leg-spinner Usama Mir on a three-year T20 contract.

The deal will see Mir join the Pears as an overseas player for the 2026 season, before becoming classed as a homegrown player from 2027 onwards.

The 29-year-old will join Worcestershire for the 2026 season and will become a local signing starting from 2027 onwards.

Usama Mir, who has represented Pakistan in T20Is and ODIs, has been a regular in the T20 circuit around the globe; however, he has not been part of Pakistan’s team plans in recent times.

Following the deal, Worcestershire’s CEO, Ashley Giles, shed light on the contract, emphasizing that longevity is a crucial factor.

“He’s a high-calibre cricketer with the skills and temperament to make a real impact at this level,” Ashley Giles said.

“His ability to transition into a homegrown player from 2027 gives us great flexibility in squad planning and shows our commitment to building a competitive team for the long term,” he added.

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According to the details, Usama Mir will play as an overseas player quota in the first year. However, he will qualify as a local player in the second and third years due to residency regulations

Worcestershire head coach also lauded Usama Mir as a player and called it a huge opportunity.

“It’s huge for Worcestershire. The club has a very proud history and a rich history of quality overseas signings.

“I am looking forward to seeing Usama get to work. The signing underlines our intent to strengthen the squad with international quality while we continue to invest in growth through our youth and pathway system,” he concluded.

The Sialkot-born spinner has played in 12 ODIs and 5 T20Is for Pakistan. However, his last appearance in the 50-over format came in 2023 against New Zealand, whereas he played his previous T20I on 27 April 2024 against the same team.

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Hobart Hurricanes rope in Pakistan star player for GSL 2025

The Hobart Hurricanes have bolstered their overseas roster for the ongoing Global Super League (GSL) 2025 by signing Pakistan leg-spinner Usama Mir, Sri Lanka’s Bhanuka Rajapaksa, and West Indies all-rounder Fabian Allen.

The franchise confirmed the signings on Friday via their official social media channels, announcing the trio as fresh additions to their campaign.

“Our GSL squad gets even stronger with more talented overseas players joining the ‘Cane Train,” the post read.

The Ben McDermott-led side had earlier picked two more Pakistani cricketers, all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz and top-order batter Sahibzada Farhan, in their squad.

However, the duo’s participation in the tournament remains up in the air, as both are currently involved in Pakistan’s preparatory camp in Karachi ahead of the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh, starting July 20 in Dhaka.

The Hobart Hurricanes have yet to comment on whether Nawaz and Farhan will be available for selection or if the franchise plans to name replacements.

Meanwhile, Usama Mir, who is set to make his GSL debut, brings with him considerable experience from various franchise leagues around the world.

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The leg-spinner has featured in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Big Bash League (BBL), The Hundred, Caribbean Premier League (CPL), and Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

In T20 cricket, the 28-year-old has played 152 matches, claiming 171 wickets at an economy rate of 7.75. He has also represented Pakistan in five T20Is, where he picked up five wickets.

The 2025 edition of the GSL kicked off on Thursday with Dubai Capitals defeating Central Districts by 22 runs.

Defending champions Rangpur Riders also opened their campaign with a thrilling eight-run win over Guyana Amazon Warriors, powered by a solid all-round show from Iftikhar Ahmed.

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Usama Mir, Mohammad Hasnain among new entrants in BBL 15 draft pool

Pakistan’s leg spinner Usama Mir and pacer Mohammad Hasnain are new entrants in the draft of the Big Bash League (BBL) season 15, scheduled to take place on June 19.

According to Cricket Australia, the new list features exciting talent from around the world, which adds to the increasing pool of more than 600 international cricketers registered for the draft.

Apart from Usama Mir and Mohammad Hasnain, the latest nominees are England’s Laure Evans and Afghanistan’s Waqar Salamkheil, while India’s Astika Bhatia has also registered for the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) draft.

BBL 15 Latest nominees:

– Laurie Evans (England)
– Usama Mir (Pakistan)
– Mohammad Hasnain (Pakistan)
– Yastika Bhatia (India)
– Waqar Salamkheil (Afghanistan)

Earlier, Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf were among the Pakistani players who had registered for the upcoming draft of the BBL season 15.

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Alongside the Pakistani player, the draft list also features England’s Sam Curran and Alex Hales, New Zealand duo Lockie Ferguson and Tim Southee, Sri Lanka’s Kusal Perera, and West Indies fast bowler Shamar Joseph.

This year’s BBL draft is set to be one of the most competitive yet, with over 600 overseas players putting their names forward. The full list of nominations will be announced in the lead-up to the draft.

It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan’s gap in the ICC Future Tours Programme (FTP) from November to February provides their top cricketers a window of opportunity to participate in the BBL 15.

Brisbane Heat hold the No. 1 pick for the men’s draft and will have the first chance to pick from a star-studded pool.

The women’s draft for WBBL 11 will run parallel, and Pakistan women’s captain Fatima Sana is part of the nomination list.

Other big names include England’s Heather Knight, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Bell, and Danni Wyatt-Hodge; India’s Jemimah Rodrigues and Shikha Pandey; South Africa’s Shabnim Ismail and Chloe Tryon; and West Indies all-rounder Deandra Dottin.

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Usama Mir joins Melbourne Stars as sole Pakistan pick in BBL Draft

Melbourne Stars picked leg-spinner Usama Mir during the annual draft for Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL) 2024, making him the only player from Pakistan to be selected for the upcoming season.

A total of 69 male cricketers and 11 female cricketers were put forward as nominees in the drafts for the Big Bash League (BBL) and the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL).

Despite the high number of nominees, except Usama, none of the Pakistan players were considered for selection.

Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Zaman Khan, Naseem Shah, Fakhar Zaman, Shan Masood, Saim Ayub, Usman Qadir, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Umar Akmal, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Haider Ali and Mohammad Hasnain were among the Pakistani nominees for BBL draft.

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Meanwhile, Pakistan’s women players Fatima Sana, Nida Dar, Diana Baig, Aliya Riaz, and Nashrah Sandhu as well as rising stars Tuba Hasan and Arooba Shah participated in the WBBL draft.

Notably, Usama Mir has previously represented Melbourne Stars in last season, where he claimed five wickets in as many games.

The Big Bash League (BBL) is scheduled to kick off on December 15, with Perth Scorchers clashing against Melbourne Stars in the tournament opener in Perth. The tournament will culminate with the final on January 27, 2025.

Meanwhile, the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) will run from October 27 to December 1, with the opening game seeing Adelaide Strikers take on Brisbane Heat at the Adelaide Oval.

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Usama Mir ‘surprised’ by his exclusion, spin utilization in T20 World Cup

Pakistan’s leg-spinner Usama Mir has finally broken the silence over his exclusion from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 and questioned the utilization of the spinners in the mega event.

Usama, the highest wicket-taker of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024 was left out of Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad while mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed and leg-spinner Shadab Khan made it through.

However, Abrar could not play a single match in the 20-team tournament while Shadab, despite playing all the matches, only bowled four overs. He conceded 38 runs and could not manage to pick up a single wicket.

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Meanwhile, Usama Mir in an exclusive interview with PakPassion.Net, revealed that then Chief Selector Wahab Riaz told him that the combination was set and also that they selected a leg-spinner and a mystery spinner.

“The Chief Selector at the time told me that they prepared a team combination, which included a leg-spinner and a mystery spinner. But, what surprised me was why the leg-spinner was not bowling and why the mystery spinner was not playing,” Usama questioned.

“It was disturbing to me that whatever was happening was completely contrasting to the reason they gave me [for my exclusion].

“I always pray for our team to do well but when we lost the matches, especially against the USA, I was frustrated with why Shadab was not bowling as a leg spinner and why mystery spinner Abrar was not playing.

“But, anyways, it’s a part of life. Life is full of ups and downs and I take it positively and I will rectify all the loopholes and mistakes by striving.”

It is worth mentioning here that Usama Mir is currently representing Manchester Originals in The Hundred 2024.

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Haris Rauf, Usama Mir and Zaman Khan granted NOCs for BBL 2023-24

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued no-objection certificates (NOC) to fast bowlers Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan and leg-spinner Usama Mir for the Big Bash League (BBL) 2023-24.

The board has issued the NOCs considering the workload of players and the future tour programme of the national men’s team.

The PCB understands that this decision is in the best interests of all the stakeholders involved while balancing the importance of game time with workload management.

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Haris Rauf and Usama Mir have been granted NOCs for a total of five matches whereas Zaman Khan has been granted NOC for four matches.

All these games are set to take place from 7 to 28 December.

Haris Rauf and Usama Mir are part of the Melbourne Stars squad, while Zaman Khan is part of Sydney Thunder in the BBL.

Haris Rauf has been representing Stars since 2019 and has picked 30 wickets from 18 games in BBL at an impressive average of 16.4.

Melbourne Stars Squad for BBL 2023-24

Glenn Maxwell, Scott Boland, Joe Burns, Hilton Cartwright, Brody Couch, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Sam Harper, Joel Paris, Nick Larkin, Tom Rogers, Mark Steketee, Marcus Stoinis, Beau Webster, Haris Rauf, Usama Mir, Liam Dawson

Sydney Thunder Squad for BBL 2023-24

Chris Green (c), Cameron Bancroft, Ollie Davies, Matt Gilkes, Liam Hatcher, Nathan McAndrew, Blake Nikitaras, Alex Ross, Daniel Sams, Gurinder Sandhu, Jason Sangha, Tanveer Sangha, David Warner, Alex Hales, Zaman Khan

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Three Pakistan players roped in for BBL 13

The upcoming edition of the Big Bash League (BBL) 2023 will feature three Pakistan players Haris Rauf, Usama Mir and Zaman Khan.

The players’ draft for the upcoming 13th edition of the BBL took place on Sunday, September 2.

Haris Rauf, who rose to fame following his sensational stint with Melbourne Stars in the ninth edition of the BBL — taking 20 wickets in 10 matches at 19.4 including a hat-trick and a five-wicket haul — has rejoined the franchise for the upcoming edition.

Joining Haris Rauf at Melbourne Stars is his Pakistan teammate Usama Mir, fresh from a breakout English domestic season amid which he took 25 wickets at 18 across 17 T20 Blast and The Hundred matches.

Notably, Usama Mir is yet to make his T20I debut for Pakistan but has represented the country in eight ODIs and took 11 wickets in the longer format.

He, alongside Haris Rauf, is part of the Pakistan squad for the ongoing ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2023.

Another Pakistan pacer Zaman Khan was roped in by Sydney Thunder in the Gold category.

Zaman has emerged as a death-over specialist in his prevailing domestic and franchise career.

He also made his international debut for Pakistan in an away three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in March this year and went on to play six matches and pick four wickets at 32.5.

Zaman Khan recently represented the Toronto Nationals in Global T20 Canada and Manchester Originals in The Hundred.

It is pertinent to mention that the upcoming 13th edition of the BBL will commence on December 7 with Haris Rauf and Usama Mir’s Melbourne Stars taking on last season’s runners-up Brisbane Heat in the curtain raiser while the final of the extravaganza will take place on January 2024.

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Worcestershire Rapids re-sign Usama Mir for T20 Blast remainder

Worcestershire Rapids has re-signed Pakistan international leg spinner Usama Mir, one of the stars of the recent Pakistan Super League, for the remainder of the T20 Blast.

Usama Mir impressed with both bat and ball during the opening three matches of the Blast as a replacement for New Zealand all-rounder Mitchell Santner who was on IPL duty.

He will now take over the Rapids’ other overseas player slot from Michael Bracewell, who has been ruled out for six to eight months with an Achilles injury.

Worcestershire Cricket Steering Group Chairman, Paul Pridgeon, said: “Usama has signed for the remainder of the Blast and is available for the last seven (group) games.

“He really impressed during those first three games, and we are confident Usama will do a good job.

“It goes without saying that we are disappointed for Michael and hope he is back on the cricket field sooner rather than later.”

Usama Mir said: “It was my dream to play county cricket, I realised that earlier in the competition, and I am delighted to be available for the remainder of the tournament.

“The boys have played some good cricket, and I’m looking forward to helping them win some more games and keep challenging near the top of the table.”

Usama Mir also made his LV=Insurance County Championship debut for Worcestershire during the game with Sussex at the 1^st Central County Ground.

He claimed five wickets during his brief three-match stint with Worcestershire Rapids in the starting phase of the T20 Blast.

Usama Mir also proved his mettle with the bat as he accumulated 61 runs in as many matches including a quickfire cameo of 32 runs in his last T20 Blast fixture.

His all-round performance propelled Worcestershire Rapids to a comfortable 33-run victory, who now sits at the fourth position with eight points in the T20 Blast standings.

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