The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) on Friday announced that right-handed batter Usman Khan has been banned for five years which will prevent him from participating in tournaments hosted or sanctioned by the ECB.
Usman, who participated in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season nine as a foreign player, decided to represent Pakistan and was also called up for the fitness camp in Kakul, Abbottabad.
After his impressive display in the PSL 9 where he became the first batter to score two centuries in a single edition, Usman was asked if he would be willing to represent Pakistan ahead of the World Cup, to which he agreed and was ultimately called up for the fitness camp in Kakul.
“Batter Usman Khan has been found to have breached his obligations owed to Emirates Cricket Board,” the ECB said in a press release.
“After a detailed investigation, Usman was found to have misrepresented to ECB about his decision to play for the UAE team and has used the opportunities and development provided by the ECB to him to seek out other prospects and it was evident that he was no longer wanting to play for ECB nor complete the eligibility criteria which he was under an obligation to do.
“Usman participated in the ECB sanctioned International League T20 Season 2 earlier this year in the UAE Category as a local player. The ECB also entered into an ECB Employment Contract with Usman for a period of one year. This was done to give him security and allow him to fulfil his eligibility criteria that would allow him to represent UAE in international cricket.
“Usman is found to have breached his obligations owed to ECB and will therefore not be allowed to participate in ECB sanctioned tournaments/leagues as well as local events organized under the aegis of councils/academies in UAE for a period of five years.”
Usman Khan is currently in Kakul where he is participating in the fitness camp supervised by the Pakistan Army as the Green Shirts prepare to take on New Zealand.
Usman is likely to be called up for the series and will play as a middle-order batter as the Babar Azam-led unit continues to finalise the team which will travel to the United States and the West Indies for the 2024 T20 World Cup.
- Usman Khan