What exactly is the role of Usman Khawaja for Islamabad United?

[MenInG]

Is he really a T20 player?

Today made 16(15)

And before that...



So this is your big player - expected much more from him but then is it a surprise?

Before the Abu Dhabi leg, some journalists were asking if a good performance in PSL could get him selected for Australia T20 WC squad.

Somehow I don't think so - but then I could be wrong.

 

[Arsal_AK]

Giving the opponent team some hope?

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

May be still getting used to slow low UAE Wickets. He was in good form in the BBL and played useful innings.
Like any Australian he plays pace and bounce well, spin and lack of pace wickets sometimes he struggles.

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

He ain’t coming back to any Australian squad now. He best position is opening and too much competition for that. Middle order he struggled.

 

[PerfectionPersonified]

he struggled , expected much better

 

[Colorblind Genius]

Obviously he looks to be terribly out of form and perhaps getting used to conditions?
Otherwise, we have already seen a few of his innings in BBL to figure out what kinda T20 batsman he is, or at least used to be.

 

[MenInG]

Obviously he looks to be terribly out of form and perhaps getting used to conditions?
Otherwise, we have already seen a few of his innings in BBL to figure out what kinda T20 batsman he is, or at least used to be.

So unrealistic to expect him to do anything of note for Islamabad - Guess it's their money so they know best!

 

[Major]

I would prefer an Australian over any of our local batsmen as opener.

Will come through.

 

[Varun]

He couldn't play spin for nuts when Australia toured India, Sri Lanka and the UAE.

Though that doesn't matter in a T20 league. Probably just there for being a medium-profile, known face.

 

[Last Monetarist]

He couldn't play spin for nuts when Australia toured India, Sri Lanka and the UAE.

Though that doesn't matter in a T20 league. Probably just there for being a medium-profile, known face.

To be fair, he batted excellently against Yasir Shah when he scored a match-saving century at Dubai.

His primary weakness is against finger spin given his obvious problems against Ashwin and Swann.

 

[MenInG]

Ok leading IU today - so clearly considered the top guy (after Shadab!)

 

[MenInG]

Ok leading IU today - so clearly considered the top guy (after Shadab!)

And 84*(50) so far! So is he back in form?

 

[silentkiller187]

form is temporary, class is permanent.

 

[MenInG]

And 100* (53) - amazing innings from Usman - seems all set now in PSL.

 

[Smudger]

This is the problem with so called fans. If a batsman like Usman,Kane,Root, Smith, Babar or even kohli doesn't perform in one or two t20 matches they are labeled as "not t20 batsmen"

 

[MenInG]

 

[moghul]

This is the problem with so called fans. If a batsman like Usman,Kane,Root, Smith, Babar or even kohli doesn't perform in one or two t20 matches they are labeled as "not t20 batsmen"

In the same line if a club level batsman like Azam Khan scores a 30 after 10 games, he becomes an instant hero, we are lacking fans with good understanding of the game.

 

[Firebat]

This is the problem with so called fans. If a batsman like Usman,Kane,Root, Smith, Babar or even kohli doesn't perform in one or two t20 matches they are labeled as "not t20 batsmen"

Khawaja in T20s has an average of 25.9 with an SR of 126.7

Not exactly elite T20 numbers

 

[Firebat]

He went from 60 (41) to 105 (56).

That's his last 45 runs coming in 15 balls

 

[Last Monetarist]

Have seen Khawaja play such innings in the BBL for the Sydney Thunder a few times, so it's not exactly a surprise.

 

[Yasir_ch]

He has shut his haters with this epic knock.

 

[MenInG]

Ok Usman Khawaja stop proving me wrong!

 

[Last Monetarist]

Khawaja's in dream form at the moment, seems to be in a good head space due to his motivational sessions with Saeed Ajmal.

 

[Firebat]

Scored a fantastic 70 (40), was keeping Islamabad in the game single-handedly. All he needed was a partner at the other end.

 

[MenInG]

Bit unlucky Usman Khawaja

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[Giannis]

Usman Khawaja on the PSL

He says the PSL has the fastest bowlers, even more so than the BBL

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Pakistan is a fast bowling factory so no surprises here. Just need a couple more in current lot to reach 300 test wickets. That is the real challenge.
Bowling fast for 4 overs is different then bowling 140k plus speed consistently even in the second and third spell of a test match.
Do not think current lot of Pakistan like hasnain Shaheen are at that level yet.

 

[Mamoon]

His international career is done and he will never get picked in IPL again. Now is a good time for his to become a PSL cheerleader and warm the hearts of Pakistani fans so that he can milk them till he is 40.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

His international career is done and he will never get picked in IPL again. Now is a good time for his to become a PSL cheerleader and warm the hearts of Pakistani fans so that he can milk them till he is 40.

Yes because it is the dream of every cricketer growing up to play in the IPL...

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Pakistans pace factory produces players with 0 longevity that get suprassed by their competitors after a year.

If this was a factory making cars then the stock price of the factory would have crashed by now.

I don't understand why we Pakistanis still chest beat over pace, nor do I understand why people of other countries give us so much praise for producing bowlers that achieve nothing.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

He says the PSL has the fastest bowlers, even more so than the BBL

This is sweet. His Urdu is fairly good for someone who has spent most of his life growing up in Australia.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Pakistans pace factory produces players with 0 longevity that get suprassed by their competitors after a year.

If this was a factory making cars then the stock price of the factory would have crashed by now.

I don't understand why we Pakistanis still chest beat over pace, nor do I understand why people of other countries give us so much praise for producing bowlers that achieve nothing.

Shaheen Shah Afridi alone is enough of a reason for us to still chest beat over producing fast-bowlers. Despite all the pitfalls and disappointments of the last decade, the fact that a once in a generation talent like Shaheen has made it into the national side fairly quickly and is already more developed than most fast-bowlers his age bodes well for the future of Pakistani fast-bowling. Additionally, Hasan Ali's rise and comeback after falling away is further proof that Pakistan can still produce world-class fast-bowlers.

 

[Mamoon]

Yes because it is the dream of every cricketer growing up to play in the IPL...

It certainly is for players nowadays, especially those who have bleak futures with their national teams.

Would Khawaja happily give up his PSL contract to get an IPL contract? Of course, so would every single player. Therefore, all this cheerleading by players like him should not be taken seriously.

PSL is not their first choice.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

It certainly is for players nowadays, especially those who have bleak futures with their national teams.

Would Khawaja happily give up his PSL contract to get an IPL contract? Of course, so would every single player. Therefore, all this cheerleading by players like him should not be taken seriously.

PSL is not their first choice.

Did you even watch the video or did you have this response typed up the moment you saw the title of the video?

Because he said in the video that the IPL is by far the best and biggest T20 league in the world. And he wasn't cheerleading PSL, he was describing his experience of playing with IU.

 

[Varun]

Pakistan is a fast bowling factory so no surprises here. Just need a couple more in current lot to reach 300 test wickets. That is the real challenge.

300?

Last Pakistani fast bowler to reach 200 wickets: Waqar Younis, debut 1989
Last Pakistani fast bowler to play 50 tests: Waqar Younis, debut 1989

 

[Ashmal]

Pakistan is a fast bowling factory so no surprises here. Just need a couple more in current lot to reach 300 test wickets. That is the real challenge.
Bowling fast for 4 overs is different then bowling 140k plus speed consistently even in the second and third spell of a test match.
Do not think current lot of Pakistan like hasnain Shaheen are at that level yet.

Yeah...but tbf not many in the world who can bowl their third spell at the same speed as their first

 

[Titan24]

I believe pace alone in isolation is an overrated skill especially now a days where batsmen have top notch facilities to play 90mph bowling day in and day out. Yes if pace has decent direction and accuracy then it is definitely a skillset which every team would like to have in their XI.

Definitely its not common to have so pacers with the ability to touch or go beyond mid 145 kph but this can only be an asset if these bowlers can ball international quality lines and lengths as thats the key in modern day cricket. There is no shortcut other than to play and perform in 4 day cricket as thats the only format where you have to ball 15-20 or even more overs in an innings with that test quality line and length to be successful. White ball cricket alone can never provide that level of consistency.

 

[Mamoon]

Did you even watch the video or did you have this response typed up the moment you saw the title of the video?

Because he said in the video that the IPL is by far the best and biggest T20 league in the world. And he wasn't cheerleading PSL, he was describing his experience of playing with IU.

I don’t think I can be bothered to watch a 10 min video of an average cricketer with a bleak future, trying to speak Urdu in an Australian accent just so that he can build a fan base in Pakistan.

Based on the comments and the discussion, I don’t think I have missed out on anything insightful.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

I don’t think I can be bothered to watch a 10 min video of an average cricketer with a bleak future, trying to speak Urdu in an Australian accent just so that he can build a fan base in Pakistan.

Based on the comments and the discussion, I don’t think I have missed out on anything insightful.

Yeah because what a crime to try and build a fanbase in the country of his origin.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

I don’t think I can be bothered to watch a 10 min video of an average cricketer with a bleak future, trying to speak Urdu in an Australian accent just so that he can build a fan base in Pakistan.

Based on the comments and the discussion, I don’t think I have missed out on anything insightful.

You also probably spent more time commenting on the same video that you didn't even see, so I don't know why you're trying to paint the picture that you saved valuable time by not watching it.

 

[SangasCoverDrive]

Anyone who has watched BBL would know that it is a low quality league. Most Australian stars don't play in it as they are busy with Tests, I was reading somewhere that last time Warner played in BBL was in 2013 or something like that. Most of the players in the league are club cricketers.