Usman Khan Archives

Salman Ali Agha settles Pakistan’s first-choice wicketkeeper debate

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha has finally settled the ongoing debate over the national team’s first-choice wicketkeeper ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Pakistan have experimented with several wicketkeepers since Mohammad Rizwan was dropped from T20Is after the South Africa tour in December 2024.

Mohammad Haris took over for much of 2025 before being replaced by Usman Khan, whose performances have occasionally been inconsistent, prompting scrutiny from fans and analysts.

Young batter Khawaja Nafay has also kept wickets in his brief T20I stint and is included in the World Cup squad, keeping the competition open.

Speaking after the third T20I against Australia, Salman Ali Agha underlined the team management’s confidence in Usman Khan and praised his match-winning contributions with the bat.

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“Our Usman is the number one wicketkeeper. In the last match, his performance was excellent; he scored 50 runs at a position that helped the team reach 198, because I got out at that time,” Agha said.

The captain highlighted Usman’s balance as a player, combining aggressive batting with reliable glovework.

“A team needs a batter who can score runs at a good strike rate, and he is our first-choice player for that reason,” Agha added.

“His keeping has been outstanding since his comeback, and I think he has been exceptional with the bat as well. He remains our first-choice player in both roles.”

Usman Khan has so far featured in 31 T20Is for Pakistan, accumulating 414 runs at a strike rate of 120.69, including two half-centuries.

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Confident Usman eyes World Cup glory under Mike Hesson

Wicket-keeper batter Usman Khan says Pakistan are ‘well prepared’ to lift the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, set to be co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India.

Speaking in an interview with Cricinfo on the sidelines of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), Usman expressed confidence in lifting the T20 World Cup under the coaching of Mike Hesson.

The 30-year-old UAE cricketer, who switched to play for Pakistan in 2024, is currently playing for Dhaka Capitals.

“Our coach Mike Hesson has prepared us very well ahead of the World Cup,” he said.

“We will play Sri Lanka and Australia in the coming month as part of our preparation. We have a great combination in the team, and we are confident about our chances in the World Cup,” he continued.

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He emphasizes the conditions in Sri Lanka, where he will be playing for the first time, although Pakistan has yet to name its T20 World Cup squa

“I am heading to Sri Lanka for the first time. Playing in Dambulla will give us a good opportunity to understand the wickets ahead of the World Cup,” Usman said.

“The conditions are similar to what we faced in the recent tri-series. I am preparing for those wickets and focusing on handling fast bowling. We aim to win the series in Sri Lanka,” he concluded.

For those unware, Pakistan will play a three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka which will be followed by home fixtures against Australia in a bid to fine tune their prepartations for the mega event.

As per the hybrid model, the Green Shirts will play all of their matches in Sri Lanka, which will start on 7 February, an event jointly hosted by India.

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Pakistan will open the World Cup campaign with the match against the Netherlands, which will be followed by a clash against USA on 10 February.

The highly anticipated match of the event between defending champions India and Pakistan will be played on 15 February.

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President’s Cup: Usman’s 155* propels Sahir Associates to victory

KARACHI: Sahir Associates Usman Khan hit a magnificent 155* off just 98 to power his side to a thrilling win over Ghani Glass in the third round fixture of the President’s Cup Grade-I here at the Oval Academy Ground on Friday.

Sahir Associated chased down the mammoth target of 328 runs with 79 balls to spare, thanks to a monumental 275-run stand between Usman Khan and Mohammed Faiq.

Usman remained unbeaten on 155, while Faiq scored 108 not out as Ghani Glass bowlers were kept on their toes as the duo struck a combined number of 11 sixes. Usman faced 98 balls, hitting 16 fours and eight sixes in his heroic effort.

Faiq – who joined Usman at 55-2 – faced 76 balls in his maiden List A century, striking 10 fours and three sixes.

Earlier, Mohsin Riaz’s maiden List A century (141 off 104b, 8x4s, 8x6s) and a 129-run fifth-wicket stand with Tayyab Tahir (65, 58b, 5x4s, 2x6s) propelled Ghani Glass from 125-4 in 28 overs to 254-5 in 45.2 overs.

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Saeed Ali then struck two fours and one six in his 12-ball 18 as Ghani Glass posted 327-7 in 50 overs.

The duo batted for 28 overs to hand Sahir their first win in three games emphatically flexing their batting muscles.

For Ghani Glass, Noman Ali picked up the two wickets.

Meanwhile, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) won a last-ball thriller, while Pakistan Television (PTV) managed a close six-run DLS win.

At the KCCA Stadium, SNGPL beat State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) by three wickets to register their third win on the trot as they chased the 287-run target with three wickets in the bag.

On the contrary, PTV edged past Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) by six runs on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method to defend their 272-8 total at the UBL Sports Complex, Karachi.

Chasing 273 to win, WAPDA were 235-4 in 47 overs, requiring 38 off 18 balls, when early onset of bad light halted the proceedings, after which they were found to be behind the par score.

READ: U19 Asia Cup: Sameer Minhas shatters multiple records against Malaysia

Salman Ali Agha explains Usman Khan’s inclusion in T20I squad

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha has revealed the reason behind the selection of wicket-keeper batter Usman Khan in the national team for the three-match T20I series against South Africa.

The first T20I match will begin tomorrow at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Usman Khan, who averages 14.93 with the bat in 19 T20Is, last appeared in the format against New Zealand on March 26, 2025.

Speaking ahead of the opening T20I, Salman shed light on the inclusion of Usman, mentioning the batting in the middle orders. He also emphasized his record in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

“We wanted a keeper who could bat in the middle order and handle the middle overs, particularly against spin. We think that since we’re going to Sri Lanka soon, and even before that, we’ll face a lot of spin in the middle overs,” he said.

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“And you can say, you must have seen in the PSL [Pakistan Super League], his international record isn’t that great, but in the PSL, he bats really well against spin in the middle overs.”

Regarding the team’s momentum, the skipper highlighted the Asia Cup 2025 and tri-nation series, noting that they have learned valuable lessons from their mistakes.

“We’ll continue from where our journey left off. We learned a lot from the Asia Cup and the tri-nation series before that. We’ve picked up a lot from those games. We’ll try to fix the mistakes we made and work on overcoming them in the upcoming series, keeping our World Cup preparation on point,” Salman explained.

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“We need to quickly cut down on our mistakes, especially the ones that keep happening again and again, because they shouldn’t be happening,” he continued.

The 31-year-old mentioned modern-day cricket and emphasized that they do not aim for high scores, but rather evaluate the situation at hand.

“Cricket has definitely gotten faster, but as you saw, we just came back from the Asia Cup, and those pitches didn’t really favor scores of 180 or 190. We don’t blindly aim for 180 or 190; we look at the situation,” Salman concluded.

READ: ‘We can beat any side’: Salman Ali Agha confident ahead of South Africa series

WATCH: Usman Khan blasts sublime century in Ghani Glass Tourney

LAHORE: Middle order batter Usman Khan blazing 138 off just 69 balls powered Vital Tea to a resounding 59-run victory over HB Lal in the fifth match of the Ghani Royal Tourney here at the Captain Fasih Babar Amin Shaheed Sports on Sunday.

After opting to bat first, Vital Tea demonstrated an excellent performance with the bat, posting a mammoth 236-6 run total in their allocated 20 overs.

After losing their openers, Kamran Akmal (6) and Muhammad Sudais (2), Usman Khan steadied Vital Tea’s innings.

First, he added 46 runs with Amir Barki for the third wicket and then with Arif Shah to lay a foundation for a big total.

In both partnerships, Usman Khan remained the core aggressor and reached his half-century in the process from just 23 balls.

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At this stage, Vital Tea were 105-3 in just 8.5 overs.

The right-handed batter continued to charge the bowlers, striking sixes and fours. Usman Khan eventually reached his century in 52 balls with a four off Kashif Ali.

While HB Lal continued to take wickets on the other end, Usman Khan ensured that his team finished strong.

Usman Khan was eventually caught on the last ball of the innings before hitting veteran pacer Wahab Riaz for two sixes and a four in the over.

In reply, HB Lal crumbled under pressure and were bowled out for `177 in 19.1 overs. Mohammad Akhlaq remained the top scorer with 51 from 31 balls with the aid of three sixes and five fours.

For Vital Tea, Muhammad Junaid remained the standout bowler, picking up three wickets in his quota of four overs.

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WATCH: Ubaid Shah’s wicket celebration leaves Usman Khan ‘stunned’

Multan Sultans’ pacer Ubaid Shah accidentally struck wicketkeeper Usman Khan on the head during a wicket celebration, creating a surprising moment in the game against Lahore Qalandars

The incident occurred during the high-voltage PSL 10 game held in Multan cricket stadium when Ubaid Shah dismissed Sam Billings.

Caught in the excitement of taking a crucial wicket, Ubaid turned and leapt in celebration but unintentionally ended up hitting Usman Khan on the head with the palm of his hand.

The keeper, who was wearing just a hat, appeared briefly stunned but continued playing after a quick medical check.

The Multan Sultans’ camp was visibly concerned, but Usman Khan gave a thumbs up to signal he was fine.

The moment quickly went viral on social media, with fans commenting on the passion and intensity PSL 10 has brought this season.

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Despite the awkward celebration, Ubaid Shah’s performance was a major highlight of the PSL 10 match. He bowled with precision and took three wickets, playing a vital role in Multan Sultans’ first win of PSL 10.

Chasing a daunting total of 229, Lahore Qalandars crumbled under pressure and could only manage 195 for the loss of nine wickets in their 20 overs.

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Lahore Qalandars started strong in pursuit of the target, posting 38 in 3.2 overs, before Mohammad Naeem’s wicket.

Fakhar Zaman led the charge with a brisk 32 off 14 balls, laced with three fours and two sixes. However, he was dismissed on the penultimate ball of the fourth over, halting Qalandars’ momentum.

Following his dismissal, Abdullah Shafique partnered with Daryl Mitchell and formed a brisk 36-run stand, taking the Qalandars’ score to 85 in 8.4 overs. Just as the Qalandars appeared to recover, Multan Sultans struck back, removing both batters in quick succession to leave the visitors struggling at 87-4.

The required run-rate soared as Qalandars slipped to 111-5 in 11.2 overs. Meanwhile, Sam Billings and Sikandar Raza provided them with a glimmer of hope with a valiant 38-run partnership.

Sam Billings was removed for a well-made 43 off 23 balls, an innings featuring four sixes and two fours. However, his dismissal derailed the chase once more. Sikandar Raza continued to fight with a valiant 50 off 27 balls, featuring five fours and three sixes, but the target proved too steep in the end.

READ: Shaheen Afridi aims to bounce back stronger after loss against Multan Sultans

Hafeez shares advice for Usman Khan, Sahibzada Farhan to cement T20I spot

Former Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez shared key advice for top-order batters Usman Khan and Sahibzada Farhan to succeed at the international level and cement a permanent place in the national T20I team.

The former captain recently launched a fan-engagement campaign titled #AskProfessor on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, where he responded to questions from cricket followers, offering insights into various aspects of Pakistan cricket.

During the session, Hafeez didn’t hold back from praising young batting talents Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub, calling them the future of Pakistan cricket.

“Abdullah Shafiq & Saim Ayub are the future of Pakistan cricket. May they stay away from all distractions,” he wrote.

Despite Pakistan’s recent run of inconsistent performances, Hafeez made it clear that he continues to back the Men in Green with full passion.

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“It hurts as a fan when Pakistan doesn’t do well, but I support them unconditionally and always want the team to succeed,” he shared.

When asked about the highly debated topic of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan’s place in the T20 side, Mohammad Hafeez acknowledged their past contributions but advised them to evolve with the modern game.

“Babar and Rizwan are quality players who have played vital roles in winning matches for Pakistan. They just need to upgrade their approach and skills to become more impactful. They have the talent to do that.”

Hafeez also stood up for Mohammad Rizwan, who has recently been the target of online criticism for his English-speaking skills.

“Sad to see people shaming a star for his language ability. Very sad,” he remarked.

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When questioned about what advice he would offer to Babar Azam, Hafeez gave a short but meaningful response: “Keep learning.”

On the Usman Khan vs Sahibzada Farhan debate, Hafeez didn’t pick one over the other but stressed that both need to focus on their fundamentals to thrive at the top level.

“First thing [that] gets challenged at professional level is ur TECHNIQUE. Need to improve it every day,” he stated.

Looking ahead to the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, Hafeez placed his confidence in Saim Ayub as one of Pakistan’s opening batters, reiterating his belief in the left-hander’s potential.

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Usman Khan ruled out of second ODI against New Zealand

HAMILTON: Pakistan opener Usman Khan was ruled out of the second One Day International (ODI) against New Zealand due to a hamstring injury.

The right-handed batter suffered the injury while fielding in the first ODI against New Zealand at McLean Park in Napier on Friday.

According to the details, an MRI scan revealed a low-grade tear, ruling Usman Khan out of the second ODI at Seddon Park, Hamilton.

The 29-year-old batter made his ODI debut in the first match against the Black Caps. He scored 39 off 33 deliveries, laced with two sixes and four fours.

Usman Khan was roped in the series opener after the opening batter Imam Ul Haq was unavailable for selection due to injury.

In a statement released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), it was confirmed that Imam sustained a soft tissue injury to his right big toe during a practice session.

“Imam-ul-Haq will not be available for the first ODI against New Zealand due to a soft tissue injury to his right big toe sustained during yesterday’s practice session. He is under medical management, and further updates will be provided in due course,” the PCB stated.

Pakistan lost the first ODI of the three-match series against New Zealand by 73 runs

Chasing a daunting 345-run target, Pakistan faltered under the pressure of New Zealand’s pace attack, folding for 271 in 44.1 overs.

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Pakistan’s chase began on a promising note as debutant Usman Khan and Abdullah Shafique put together a brisk 83-run opening stand.

Both batters looked aggressive, setting a solid platform before Nathan Smith broke the partnership in the 13th over, removing Usman for 39. Skipper Michael Bracewell then dismissed Abdullah for 36 in the 16th over, reducing Pakistan to 88-2.

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan attempted to rebuild with a 76-run partnership, keeping hopes alive. However, debutant Muhammad Abbas struck in the 29th over to dismiss Rizwan for 30, leaving Pakistan at 164-3.

Babar, showing his trademark composure, anchored the innings with Salman Ali Agha in an 89-run stand.

The former captain reached his 36th ODI fifty, scoring a fluent 78, but his dismissal in the 39th over to Will O’Rourke tilted the momentum firmly in New Zealand’s favor.

Pakistan’s collapse began soon after as Tayyab Tahir was run out in the 40th over, followed by a golden duck for Irfan Khan Niazi.

Smith then returned to clean up the tail, dismissing Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf in the 43rd over.

READ: Natalia Parvaiz confident as Pakistan women’s team gear up for World Cup Qualifiers

Usman Khan’s century in vain as Afghanistan U19 crush Pakistan

DUBAI: Usman Khan waged a lone war with his century however Pakistan fell 100 runs short against Afghanistan U19 chasing a target of 307 target in the second match of the U19 tri-series here at the ICC Academy in Dubai on Friday.

While batting first, Afghanistan’s Faisal Shinozada played a dominant knock of 123 runs from 113 balls with the help of six boundaries and seven sixes.

Shinozada knitted a 113-run second-wicket partnership with Mahboob Khan, who scored 54 runs from 84 balls with five boundaries, as they helped Afghanistan U19 post a massive 306-8 in the allotted 50 overs.

For Pakistan, left-arm pacer Mohammad Ahmed picked up five wickets, including the prized scalp of Faisal Shinozada, returning with the bowling figures of 5-53.

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In response, opening batter Usman Khan stayed on the crease for 133 balls hitting eight fours to score 102 runs, while wickets kept falling on the other end.

No other Pakistan batters could pose any threat to Afghanistan with captain Saad Baig being the other notable scorer with 36 runs.

Naseer Khan Maroofkhil was the pick of the bowlers for Afghanistan with the figures of 4-22 as Pakistan were bowled out for 206 in 46.3 overs. Meanwhile, Uzairullah, Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar and Nooristani Omarzai grabbed two wickets each.

Pakistan will now face Afghanistan in the fourth match of the U19 tri-series on Wednesday, 20 November. The first ball of the match will be bowled at 10.30am PKT.

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Usman Khan gives insights about his tough journey to Pakistan squad

RAWALPINDI: Right-handed opening batter Usman Khan, a part of Pakistan’s squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand, opened up about the struggles, he faced in his career.

Hailing from Farooqabad, Usman initially moved to Sheikupura before settling in Karachi, with the hope that his talents would be better acknowledged and his career would develop.

“My brother was a first-class cricketer and played for The Karachi Port Trust (KPT). I also played for them and in my early stages of the career where I would stay in a complex and carry on with my cricket duties,” shared Usman in a video released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Despite striving hard in the metropolitan city and participation in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), the right-handed batter could not make ends meet and thus opted to relocate to Ajman, United Arab Emirates (UAE), move Ajman (UAE) where he could work and play cricket.

“I worked as a labourer at Ajman Gas while continuing to play cricket. The support from the owner was instrumental in our team winning numerous local tournaments,” shared Usman.

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The turning point of Usman Khan’s career came in 2022 when he became the local player of the T10 league and subsequently came under the radar of Andy Flower.

“Andy Flower saw me in T10 and on the basis of performances there, I played in Multan Sultans as a local player in PSL 2023.

Usman was then contracted with the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) and represented Sultans as a foreign player.

Following the conclusion of the PSL 2024, Usman Khan was approached by the PCB to consider representing his homeland.

He opted to pursue his childhood dream and was subsequently named in the Pakistan squad for the New Zealand series.

As a result, the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) slapped a five-year ban on Usman over “breaching his obligations” owed to the cricketing body.

The sanction imposed will prohibit Usman from participating in any ECB tournaments for the next five years.

READ: PCB Chairman holds meeting with Babar Azam ahead of New Zealand T20Is