Usman Khan reveals his difficult path to Pakistan T20I squad

Usman Khan, a member of the Pakistan T20I squad for the series against New Zealand, has opened up about the challenges he faced in his cricketing journey.

Hailing from Farooqabad, the 28-year-old initially relocated to Sheikupura before settling in Karachi, where he believed his talents would be better recognized and his career could flourish.

"My brother played first-class cricket for The Karachi Port Trust (KPT), and I followed suit. During the early stages of my career, I lived in a complex and focused solely on cricket," Usman told PCB digital.

Despite his efforts in Karachi and participating in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Usman found it difficult to meet his family's financial needs. Consequently, he made the decision to move to Ajman in the UAE, where he could pursue both work and cricket.

"I worked as a laborer at Ajman Gas while continuing to play cricket. The support from the owner was instrumental in our team winning numerous local tournaments," he recounted.

Usman's breakthrough came in the 2022 edition of the T10 league, where he was recognized as the standout local player, propelling his career forward. His performances caught the eye of Andy Flower, leading to his inclusion in the Multan Sultans squad as a local player for the PSL 2023 season.

In the 2024 edition, he secured a contract with the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) and represented the Sultans as an overseas player.

However, Usman recently made the decision to fulfill his ambition of representing Pakistan, resulting in the termination of his contract with the ECB and a five-year ban from cricket in the UAE.