Twitteratis express confusion over Usman Qadir’s inclusion for Australia tour

• Usman Qadir had previously stated that he want to represent Australia in T20 World Cup 2020.
• Many new faces including Mohammad Musa and Naseem Shah, made into the squads.

The announcement of Pakistan team T20I and Test squads for the tour of Australia came as a surprise to many cricket fans, with inclusion of uncapped players and seasoned players making their returns for Pakistan.

However, many cricket fans were left confused over the inclusion of leg spinner Usman Qadir – the son of spin legend (late) Abdul Qadir, who many believed had bid adieu to Pakistan cricket and was eyeing to represent Australia.

Qadir, who has represented the PM XI in Australia has previously stated that he aims to play for Australia and represent them in the ICC T20 World Cup 2020. "My goal is to play for Australia in 2020 in the T20 World Cup... Before that, if I get the opportunity to play for Australia in a Test or one-day cricket, I would love that," Qadir stated.

The fans expressed their views on social media, questioning over the inclusion of the wrist spinner for the T20I series.

Usman Qadir seriously? The guy was dispatched all over the park in the last BBL. Can only bowl poor flighted deliveries

— Ugly Ranter (@_UglyRants) 21 October 2019

Good teams TBH. Glad with the selection of Musa, Nasim Shah, Hasnain and Bhatti. But overall there are few unjust selections in the squad.

1- What did Usman Qadir do to get selected in Pakistan T20 squad?

2- Why is Fakher Zaman still in the team?

*continued* pic.twitter.com/WHyujE1rkq

— Sultan Tariq Bajwa (@sultanbajwa) 21 October 2019

usman qadir ko kyun slect kya ha???kya perfrmenc ha uski???

zahid mehmood ka haq tha jo ke wo hi kya gya ha jo hota arha ha.shame on u misbha

— Mohsin Shaikh 14 (@MohsinShaikh141) 21 October 2019

Also Usman Qadir?? Wasn't he going to play for Aus. Guy didn't even played PSL and is now part of the T20 Team.

— . (@OnlyLeohasmore) 21 October 2019

Another story of favoritism begins. #Sarfaraz was removed because Misbah and Waqar didn't like him. Usman Qadir, a friend of Babar Azam, just made it into the team when Babar became captain. It's not too far when his cousins Kamran and Umar Akmal make a comeback, again. pic.twitter.com/I69FtHh590

— Rant Maker (@Shaharyaaaaar) 21 October 2019

Usman Qadir's selection is a little confusing for me.#PakVAUS

— Zee! (@zaeemsays) 21 October 2019

We select players who don't value playing for this nation.. Usman Qadir who bashed Pakistan is now in playing 11 on the other hand players like Fawad Alam are working hard and values playing for nation and yet still not getting any  chance

— JAFFA 🇵🇰 (@jafferhussain9) 21 October 2019

Talking about Qadir’s inclusion Misbah said that the wrist spinner was selected due to his experience in Australia. “I see that Usman is playing in T20 cricket, and we saw a spark in his bowling, he also got the experience of playing in Australia, through Big Bash League (BBL). We think that his bowling got the potential, and variation,” said chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq, while addressing a presser.

“We are facing an issue as we don’t have considerable backup in the wrist spin department, so considering this and his experience in Australia Usman has been selected for the Australian tour. We have to play the T20 World Cup 2020 in Australia as well,” he added.

Many new faces were included in the Pakistan squad, including fast bowlers Mohammad Musa and Naseem Shah, alongside uncapped middle-order batsman Khushdil Shah whereas, lanky fast bowler Mohammad Irfan too made the comeback.

Pakistan T20I squad:

Babar Azam (capt), Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Imam-ul Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Irfan, Mohamad Rizwan (Wkt), Musa Khan, Shadab Khan, Usman Qadir, And Wahab Riaz.

Series Schedule

31 October – T20 warm-up match v CA XI, Bankstown, Sydney

3 November – 1st T20I, Sydney

5 November – 2nd T20I, Canberra

8 November – 3rd T20I, Perth