\u201cCricket is my livelihood, I have come to Australia with a plan for my future,\u201d says leg spinner
\n LAHORE
\nLeg spinner Usman Qadir has relocated to New South Wales, Australia, in pursuit of a fresh cricketing chapter.
\nCurrently playing for Hawkesbury Cricket Club in Sydney, the 31-year-old is seeking better opportunities after retiring from Pakistan cricket last October.
\nIn a heartfelt social media post at the time, Qadir reflected on his journey with Pakistan cricket, expressing gratitude for the honour of representing his country. \u201cIt has been an immense honour to represent my country,\u201d he wrote. \u201cI\u2019m thankful for the support of my coaches and teammates who have been with me every step of the way.\u201d
\nQadir\u2019s career for the Pakistan national team saw flashes of brilliance. He made an impressive debut in 2020 during a T20I series against Zimbabwe, claiming eight wickets for 60 runs in three matches and earning the Player of the Series title.
\nFor a brief period, he was Pakistan\u2019s leading leg spinner, even replacing Shadab Khan from the T20I side. However, inconsistency and off-field issues marred his career trajectory.
\nBefore committing to Pakistan cricket, Qadir was on track to play for Australia, representing Western Australia and playing in the Big Bash League (BBL) for Perth Scorchers and Sydney Thunder. Additionally, he had the honour of playing for Australia\u2019s Prime Minister\u2019s XI.
\nHis time in Australia, however, was fraught with challenges, including disciplinary concerns.
\nIn 2019, weeks after his father Abdul Qadir\u2019s sudden passing, Usman surprised many by joining Pakistan\u2019s squad for a series in Australia under the then head coach, Misbah-ul-Haq.
\nUsman later admitted that fulfilling his late father\u2019s dream of seeing him represent Pakistan was the driving force behind his decision to leave Australia and return to the country of his birth.
\nAbdul Qadir, one of Pakistan\u2019s most celebrated leg spinners, remained a constant influence on Usman\u2019s cricketing ambitions.
\nDespite his father\u2019s legacy, Usman struggled to establish a consistent spot in the Pakistan side. His last appearance for Pakistan came during the Asian Games in October 2023.
\nHe also voiced frustrations with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), accusing it of mishandling his injury earlier that year, claiming he had evidence to back his allegations.
\nWith this turbulent chapter behind him, Qadir has returned to Australia with hopes of rebuilding his career. \u201cCricket is my livelihood, I have come to Australia with a plan for my future,\u201d Qadir said. \u201cI am hopeful and determined that I will get good opportunities in cricket only.\u201d
\nQadir\u2019s move to Australia also underscores his focus on embracing his father\u2019s legacy while forging his own path. \u201cAs I step into this new chapter, I will be continuing my dad\u2019s legacy, embracing both my love for cricket and the lessons he instilled in me,\u201d he said last year.
\nSources indicate that his family is expected to join him soon, as he seeks to make his name in Australian cricket. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cCricket is my livelihood, I have come to Australia with a plan for my future,\u201d says leg spinner LAHORE Leg spinner Usman Qadir has relocated to New South Wales, Australia, in pursuit of a fresh cricketing chapter. Currently playing for Hawkesbury Cricket Club in Sydney, the 31-year-old is seeking better opportunities after retiring from Pakistan […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":455703,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-455675","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n