'There are no technical issues, selectors wanted me to work on strike rate and I've done that' - Usman Salahuddin wants to be reconsidered for national selection

Pakistan batter Usman Salahuddin feels that he was dropped from the Pakistan side purely because of issues related to his strike rate and not any technical issues in his batting. He made his maiden Test appearance during Pakistan’s tour of England in the Headingley Test, where he registered scores of 4 and 33 in the first and second innings respectively.

The Test was a horror show from the visitors as they were tumbled out for 174 in the first innings, with the England pace trio of James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes bagging a three-for each, while Sam Curran taking one. England responded with 383 on the back of Jos Buttler’s 80 and crucial contributions in the forties from Alastair Cook, Joe Root and Dom Bess before Pakistan was dismissed for a paltry 134 to lose the match by an innings and 55 runs. Salahuddin has not been into national reckoning ever since that Test.

I have fulfilled the requirement and will keep performing: Usman Salahuddin

Speaking exclusively to Grassroots cricket, Salahuddin said the selectors wanted him to work on his strike-rate, which he has and must be considered for national selection.

“My performances in domestic are improving since I got dropped after playing one Test. I had a chat with selectors and they told me that my strike-rate is low and I need to work on that. There are no other technical issues,” Usman was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.

“So, I have worked on it and my strike-rate this season was 50-plus, which is an improvement. I have fulfilled the requirement and will keep performing,” the middle-order batter added.

The 30-year-old, however, stated that the pitch and conditions should also be taken into account, before judging the batsman purely on his strike rate.

“We need to play according to situation. If the situation requires you to bat slowly, then you need to do that. Strike-rate doesn’t matter much. It depends on pitch behaviour as well. If it is a flat track, it is easier to score runs quickly. Sometimes, pitch requires you to take your time in difficult conditions,” he added.