Blackpool CC pro challenged to make an all-round contribution after being dropped from Pakistan Test squad
Blackpool CC’s professional was one of the players to leave Pakistan’s Test tour early.
Interim Pakistan coach Mike Hesson has explained the thinking behind the dropping of Blackpool CC professional Ali Usman before the final Test of their England tour.
With England 2-0 up in the three-match series, Pakistan stunned onlookers on August Bank Holiday Monday by omitting seven players from their squad, along with the departures of head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul.
Hesson, Pakistan’s white-ball coach, was then brought in alongside former Australia seamer Ashley Noffke.
However, they couldn’t oversee a change in fortunes as England won last week’s third Test at Edgbaston by eight wickets.
Among the omissions were Salman Ali Agha, who captained Pakistan in the first Test at Headingley, and Usman, who took a Test-best 5-95 in the same game.
Speaking to Sky Sports before the final Test started, Hesson reiterated that Usman needed to offer more of an all-round contribution.
He said: “There are certain parts of the world where your finger-spinner has to make a contribution in the first innings of the game as well - whether that be in the field or with the bat - because his role might come late or, in all honesty, it might not come at all.
“You certainly have to offer more. (It’s a) Bit different in Pakistan, where they’ll be one of your key bowlers, but we need a number eight or our bowling all-rounder - whether that be seam or spin - to be able to offer in all three areas.”
Although Usman’s four Tests against the West Indies and England have brought him 12 wickets at 25, the 33-year-old’s batting is yet to fire.
Seven innings have only yielded 36 runs at an average of five when batting in the middle to lower order.