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Usman Khan Risked Ban From UAE To Realise His Pakistan Dream In Shocking Switch

Akshita Patel

When Usman Khan switched countries [Source: @usmanramzan1977, @Vipintiwari952/X.com]When Usman Khan switched countries [Source: @usmanramzan1977, @Vipintiwari952/X.com]

Cricket often throws up stories full of drama, and Usman Khan's story is one of the craziest in recent memory. In April 2024, the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) announced a five-year ban on Usman Khan for accepting an offer from Pakistan.

At that time, Usman had already become a well-known name in franchise cricket. He was a big-hitting top-order batter, who could rip up a bowling attack to pieces in the powerplay.

The UAE had invested in his development, hoping he would one day be their main star. But one Pakistan Super League season changed everything.

When Usman Khan Ditched UAE After A Historic PSL Season

In the PSL 2024 season, Pakistan origin Usman Khan hit 430 runs in 7 games for Multan Sultans, including 2 hundreds. Owing to his blistering form, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) offered him an opportunity to serve his birth country, and the batter accepted it with open arms.

However, the UAE board accused him of abandoning them and using their platform only to prepare himself for opportunities elsewhere. Hence, after swift deliberation, Khan was banned for five years from the Emirates Cricket Board.

The controversy, however, didn’t stop Pakistan from showing interest. Just days after the ban was announced, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirmed that Usman was eligible to play for Pakistan. 

He joined a training camp and was included in the T20I squad for the series against New Zealand in April 2024, making his debut on 18 April 2024. He later debuted in ODIs in March 2025, opening the batting against New Zealand.

Up to August 2025, Usman played 19 T20Is for Pakistan, scoring 239 runs at an average of around 15, with a top score of 52.

However, the Pakistan dream didn’t last long, as after repeated failures, Usman was dropped from PCB’s central contract list for the year 2025-2026.