Usman Khan sends notice to Emirates Cricket Board for contract termination

Hard-hitting batter Usman Khan has been named among 29 players for the fitness camp at Kakul, which started from March 26.

He performed exceptionally well for Multan Sultans in the Pakistan Super League (PSL 9), scoring two centuries and 430 runs in total. This performance caught the selectors' attention. 

According to sources, Usman has sent a notice to the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) to terminate his retainer contract, after legal consultation from PCB, indicating his desire to establish his future in Pakistan cricket.

Usman made his debut for Karachi Whites in 2017. In four innings of his two first-class matches, he scored 0, 8, 9, and 22 runs respectively. After that he moved to United Arab Emirates (UAE) for better opportunities. He would have been eligible to play for UAE cricket team after June next year and was also awarded a retainer contract by the Emirates Cricket Board.

Last year, he represented Gulf Giants in the ILT20 League as a local player. Although he holds Pakistani passport but was designated as a local player to participate in the franchise owned by an Indian. He also received a compensation of $50,000 (approximately 14 million rupees). 

Usman participated in the PSL as a foreign player and reached Pakistan after obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the ECB. It was planned for him to return to Dubai after the final, but he did not go.

During this time, Usman remained in constant contact with the PCB. An influential figure from Multan Sultans played a crucial role in finalizing his affairs. Now, Usman has sent a notice to terminate his retainer contract with ECB.

Violation of the contract may result in restrictions on his participation in future tournaments in the UAE. He has received assurances from someone in Pakistan that he will not only be part of the series against New Zealand but also included in the upcoming T20 World Cup squad. For this reason, he has closed the door on Emirati cricket on him.

It is worth noting that Usman, aged 28, had stated in an interview to a foreign website a few days ago that he would not play cricket for Pakistan, but has since changed his mind.