Unhappy with selection bias, Usman Qadir aims to play for Australia in World T20 2020

Young Pakistani cricketer Usman Qadir has set his sights on playing for the Australian side in the World T20 2020. Usman is reportedly unhappy with the bias that has been shown towards him by the national selectors in Pakistan. Usman, son of legendary Pakistani cricketer Abdul Qadir, remarked that the selectors of the Pakistani cricket circle have been perennially ignoring him.

Hence, in order to pursue his dream of playing international cricket, he is keen on making a switch to Australia. Usman Qadir noted that he was offered an Australian citizenship back in 2012. But he had decided to deny the offer since his father asked him to continue plying the trade in Pakistan cricket circle. The PCB did add him to the national squad for the 2013 tour of West Indies. But his name was removed from the list at the last moment.

“I was offered Australian citizenship back in 2012 around the time when the Under-19 World Cup ended. At that time, I did not accept the offer on the advice of my father, as he felt that I had done well at the Under-19 level and had a bright future ahead with the Pakistan side. I went back to Pakistan and was ignored for selection from the national side,” the Pakpassion.net quoted Usman Qadir as saying.

“I then told the Pakistan Cricket Board that I am going back to Australia which prompted them to add my name to the Pakistan squad for the 2013 tour of West Indies. However, very close to the time of departure for the squad, my name was removed without any reason due to what can only be described as a case of ‘dislike’ for a certain player,” he added.

Feeling prejudiced

Elucidating the bias that he has been witnessing in Pakistan cricket, Usman Qadir cited the example of Salman Irshad being picked ahead of him in the Lahore Qalandars for the PSL this year. He feels that the political reasons are working against him. The 24-year is utterly disappointed by such bias by the selectors and the officials.

“I recently came over to Australia a few months ago with Lahore Qalandars along with some other players too. Make no mistake, I really admire players like Salman Irshad and his performance in Grade B cricket in Australia, but despite my excellent Grade A cricket results in Australia, he was preferred over me for this year’s PSL by Lahore Qalandars, purely due to political reasons,” Qadir mentioned.

Aiming World T20 2020

Furthermore, Usman Qadir remarked that he has his eyes set on the World T20 now. He hopes to acquire the Australian citizenship in the same way as Fawad Ahmed had acquired it. He hopes to play for the Aussies in the 2020 World Cup.

“My goal is clear. I plan to represent Australia in the World Twenty20 in 2020 in Australia. I wish to use the same process of acquiring the ‘Distinguished Talent Visa’, which Fawad Ahmed also used to allow him to play for Australia. This visa allows any talented sportsman to gain permanent residency in Australia and this is the path I wish to follow as well,” he conceded.

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