An ECB statement said the decision had been reached after Usman was “found to have breached his obligations to the Emirates Cricket Board”.
The board accused Usman of misrepresenting his intentions to them. “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.”
That disciplinary action would be taken against Usman was widely expected, though the severity of the punishment and the combative tone taken by the ECB showcases the sense of feeling at the board. Usman was well on the way to qualifying for the UAE, having seemingly given up hopes of playing for Pakistan. He competed in the Abu Dhabi T10 and the ILT20 as a local player for the UAE, and as recently as last month, played the Pakistan Super League as an overseas player.
His performances in that tournament shifted the dial, though. He ended up as the second highest run-scorer despite playing just seven of 11 games for Multan Sultans, scoring two of the tournament’s four centuries. In an interview with ESPNcricinfo on the eve of the final, he appeared to express little interest in playing for Pakistan, but when he was called up for a training camp with the rest of the Pakistan squad, he accepted.
Speaking to ESPNcricinfo after his call-up, Usman believed he had not breached any contract, contesting that his contract included an exit clause with a 30-day notice period. He was resigned to whatever sanction the ECB levied, and said the allure of playing for Pakistan when the PCB came calling after the PSL was too enticing to turn down.
It is not yet clear whether the ban means the work permit Usman held will also be voided, but either way, events over the last few weeks effectively closed the door on prospects of Usman ever playing for UAE. His most immediate concern is Pakistan’s upcoming T20I series against New Zealand, for which he is expected to be named in the squad. The T20 World Cup, one of the primary reasons Usman wanted to play for Pakistan, takes place in June in the USA and the West Indies.
