Usman Qadir likely to migrate Australia

Usman Qadir, son of former Pakistan leg spinner Abdul Qadir, is considering the options to migrate to either Australia or South Africa in a bid to have an international career there. Qadir last played a domestic match in Pakistan way back in 2014 and has been considering his options since then.

The 22-year old has featured in two U19 World Cups for Pakistan and shot to limelight with a 5-wicket haul against Sri Lanka U23s in the ACC Emerging Players tournament in the year 2012. He came close to making his international debut and was tipped to make it to the squad for the series against West Indies in 2013 but wasn’t picked eventually.

The young leg-spinner spent his last summer in Cape Town playing local cricket there. Earlier, he had won a call-up from South Australia in 2013 to play in the interstate second XI competition. His stint with the Redbacks, however, was cut short when he met with a car accident and had to return home.

It is the lack of opportunities in Pakistan that has prompted Usman Qadir to mull over the migration idea. Also, he doesn’t want his selection to be called as an act of nepotism. He wishes to excel at his own merit. “I want to play cricket and I have come through the ranks because of my own ability,” Usman told ESPNcricinfo. “But there is always a sense of skepticism about my inclusion in a team. I don’t want to spoil my passion [for the game]. So I think I’d rather play my cricket where I can focus only on my cricket rather than unnecessary criticism.”

Commenting on the issue, his father said that he had initially stopped his son from taking any such action but now after seeing him ignored for 3 years in the domestic set up, he has left the decision to his son. “I have allowed Usman to decide about his future. I did hold him back from migrating to Australia in 2013, and asked him to stay in Pakistan. But now after his being ignored for more than three years, I don’t think it’s fair for me to stop him anymore,” quoted the legendary leg spinner Abdul Qadir.

Also read – Chris Harris retrieves his debut cap back after a decade it was stolen