Usman blames Covid-19 for hampering his progress

RAWALPINDI: Hard hitting top order batsman Usman Khan blamed Covid-19 for hampering his progress at a time when he was about to gain full flow en route to becoming a recognized batsman.

In an interview, Usman, who hails from Farooqabad (Sheikhupura), said that pandemic came at a time when he started earning laurels for his homeland. “Be it Andy Flower or my coaches, team owners and associates in the UAE, everyone started praising my talent when the pandemic surfaced. Before that I hammered 81 in the only match I played for Quetta Gladiators. Then all came to a standstill.”

In the post-Covid era, Usman helped his team in the UAE win the local titles. “I worked as a security guard in the UAE and at the same time I kept on playing cricket and also hit a century in Bangladesh League. All these years looking after my family was one of my top priorities.”

Usman praised Multan Sultans’ owners and the coaches for keeping faith in him. “I missed early part of the PSL 9 and even scored 14 in the opening game. But my coaches backed me for next games where I started making inroads by striking 96 and then hit back-to-back hundreds.

During time of struggle, my family backed me. “In all formats of the game I performed outstandingly in UAE. My family and my brother supported me. When I was selected in Pakistan team for the series against New Zealand, my wife was first to call me and congratulated me on my achievement. My brother Nadeem Afzal (first-class cricketer) lauded my hard work and steadfastness which he thought was the reason behind earning a place in the national team.”

Usman added that he was not afraid of working hard and taking risks. “I took risks in my entire life, worked hard from dawn to dusk in an effort to make a name for myself in cricket. I am thankful to Almighty Allah for helping me get into the limelight.” Usman said playing for Pakistan would be like a dream come true.

“I am still holding a Pakistani passport and am eligible to play for the country where I started my cricketing career. I was only settled in the UAE for cricketing purposes. It would be nothing less than a dream come true if I go on to represent Pakistan at international stage in days to come,” Usman said while talking to ‘The News’ in his recent interview.

Usman who played just two first-class matches in Pakistan, mostly remained active playing different formats of the game in Karachi before moving to the UAE. “Obviously playing international cricket for the country where you reside is what you aim at. I am delighted to see my name in the probables for fitness camp. Hopefully, the way I batted in the PSL 9 where I scored 430 runs in just seven innings with three unbeaten knocks, I would continue to do that for my country if given a chance,” he said.

Usman added that he always tried to make the best of opportunities coming his way. “Whenever and wherever I play, I try to make the best of the given opportunity. It will be a great honour for me to represent my country at any stage.”

The hard-hitting batsman is equally a good wicket keeper as in most of the PSL 9 matches he kept wickets for Multan even in presence of Mohammad Rizwan. “I like keeping wickets apart from batting. I kept wickets for Multan Sultans with utmost success and could do that even for my country if given the opportunity.”

Usman also likes to bat anywhere his team wants him. “I can bat at any order as I usually believe in taking the game head on. I always try to make maximum use of my stay at the wicket.”