UAE-born cricketer Usman Khan, who switched allegiance to Pakistan in 2024, believes a solid preparation under head coach Mike Hesson gives the squad a strong chance of lifting the 2026 T20 World Cup.
“Our coach Mike Hesson has prepared us well ahead of the World Cup,” said Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) side Usman, who represents Dhaka Capitals.
“We will be playing Sri Lanka and Australia in the coming month as part of our preparation. We have a great combination in the team and we are confident about our chances at the World Cup.”
The 30-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman will join Pakistan in the three-match T20I series in Sri Lanka starting on January 7 in Dambulla.
Pakistan has already played 34 T20Is in 2025, the most of any team participating in the World Cup.
Usman featured in nine matches, including all of the tri-series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in November, where he scored two crucial 30s, boosting hopes of a World Cup call-up.
All of Pakistan’s World Cup matches will be played in Sri Lanka, starting with four Group A matches in Colombo, with Super Eight matches also scheduled in Colombo and Kandy.
“I am going to Sri Lanka for the first time. Playing in Tambulla will be a good opportunity for us to understand the wickets ahead of the World Cup,” Usman said.
“The conditions are similar to what we faced in the recent tri-series. I am preparing for those wickets and focusing on handling the pace. We are aiming to win the series in Sri Lanka.”
Usman also highlighted how playing in Bangladesh helps him adapt to different conditions.
“The Sylhet and Chittagong wickets are fantastic, while the Dhaka pitches can be unpredictable in the first few overs. Playing here gives me valuable experience.”
A BPL regular, Usman previously represented Chattogram Challengers and Chittagong Kings. In the 2024–25 season with the Kings, he scored 285 runs in 14 innings at a strike rate of 167.64.
The previous year, he scored 296 runs for the Challengers in 11 innings, including a century.
“I have played for UAE but Pakistan is my first choice. Pakistan is my country and my people. I thank Allah for giving me the opportunity to play for Pakistan,” Usman said.
Ahead of the PBL, he had an impressive run in domestic competitions, including an unbeaten 159 in the Presidents Trophy and two fifties in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy in November.
“PCB assesses performances in PBL, PSL and domestic tournaments. Playing domestic cricket helped me prepare for the national call-up. I focused on fitness, wicket-keeping and batting,” he added.
Usman is also working as a specialist finisher. “I learned a lot from Rizwan Bhai, Sarfaraz Bhai and Babar Bhai. They build their innings and finish the games. I try to follow that approach and finish the matches successfully.”
Usman hit the headlines when he chose to move from the UAE to Pakistan in 2023, despite a ban from the Emirates Cricket Board.
“Playing for Pakistan fulfilled a lifelong dream. Every aspiring cricketer wants to represent their country and I thank Allah for this opportunity,” he said.