Pakistani-origin Emirati cricketer Usman Khan has become a part of the Pakistan Cricket Team’s training camp.
According to a report on the Kirkinfo website, this training camp is starting on Tuesday at Akstan Military Academy (PMA) Kakul in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
Usman Khan’s being a part of the training camp is actually a clear expression of Pakistan’s desire to include the cricketer in the team.
Usman Khan is among the 28 players who will train in Kakul from March 26 to April 8.
However, no clear statement has come out from Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) regarding Usman Khan’s inclusion in the Pakistan team or any such change from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) cricket team.
Last month, Usman Khan participated in Pakistan Super League season nine as an overseas player and was the second-highest run-scoring batsman in the tournament.
Usman Khan has previously played as a local player in the UAE domestic tournaments (ILT20 and T10).
Usman Khan is 14 months away from being eligible to represent the UAE.
Some time ago, in an interview given to the sports news website ‘ESPN Cricket Info’, Usman Khan expressed his determination to represent the Emirates cricket team instead of joining the Pakistan team.
Explaining the reasons for not changing the team, Usman Khan pointed to the growing uncertainty in Pakistan, apart from obtaining the NOC (No Objection Certificate) from the Emirates Cricket Board.
Usman Khan can still be a part of the Pakistan team without waiting. However, with the rapid progress being made by the PCB, it is not far off for Usman Khan to be a part of the Pakistan team for the series against New Zealand and the T20 World Cup.
