PCB chief confirms Usman Khan being considered for national squad

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has confirmed that United Arab Emirate's (UAE) Usman Khan's name is being considered for selection and that he will be part of the national squad.

"[Usman] Khan is eligible for Pakistan and he will play [for the national side]," Naqvi said while speaking to the media in Lahore on Sunday.

The PCB chairman's announcement comes as Khan, who made a mark in the Pakistan Super League's ninth edition (PSL 9), was last week banned by the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) over breach of contract and misrepresentation regarding his decision to play for the gulf side.

"Batter Usman Khan has been found to have breached his obligations owed to the ECB [...] 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," the board said in a statement.

The development came after the right-handed batter took part in the Green Shirts' recently concluded physical fitness camp at Pakistan Army's Kakul facility.

Commenting on the 2025 Champions Trophy, the PCB chief said that the mega-event would be held in Pakistan as per the schedule, however, he added that it's too early to talk about the Indian cricket team's participation in the tournament.

On the issue of team management, Naqvi said that the announcement of the foreign head coaches will be made after April 15.

"The availability of foreign coaches for the series against New Zealand depends on the contract with them," Naqvi said stressing the national side's "busy" upcoming season in light of series against against Ireland, England, T20I World Cup, Bangladesh, England, Australia and South Africa.

"Before the Champions Trophy, there is a tri-party series in Pakistan. Teams will come to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy and the tri-party series," he added.

Furthermore, confirming that the announcement of the national side's squad for the upcoming five-match T20I home series against New Zealand will be made on April 9.

The series, set to commence on April 18, will see the Black Caps taking on the national side in five T20I matches of which three will be played in Rawalpindi, whereas the rest of the two matches will be played in Lahore with the series culminating on April 27.