The Usman Khan conundrum To get the best out of Usman Khan, Pakistan may have to sacrifice its best.

Experimentation closer to a World Cup is a norm. In this day and age of tight international schedules—and, in the case of Pakistan, sometimes the unavailability of competitive opponents due to leagues around the world—finalising permutations and combinations becomes an arduous task.

You have to rely on the available sample size—something the Pakistan Cricket Board did after the conclusion of the Pakistan Super League in March.

It only made sense that Wahab Riaz, then chief selector and now a member of the current selection committee, had a word with Usman Khan after he received the best batter of the tournament award and convinced him to give up his contract with the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) and fully commit to Pakistan, his birth country.

Usman sought assurances, which were provided. After all, he was one of the most successful stories of this PSL.

Playing only seven games, the right-hander racked up 430 runs (second most) at a staggering strike rate of 164.12 with an astonishing average of 107.50.

He scored two centuries — the most in the season — and two half-centuries, one of which was a 96 at a strike rate of 175. Considering Pakistan’s scoring woes, these numbers would entice any selector to fast-track the batter to the national side.

So, came the call-up for the Kakul fitness camp, which, according to the board’s correspondence with the media, also served as a players’ bonding opportunity. The much-anticipated call-up for the Pakistan team was next.

The Pakistan call-up, however, had significant costs attached to it.

A few years ago, Usman, disheartened by the lack of opportunities in Pakistan, moved to the UAE to fulfil his dream of becoming an international cricketer. He signed an ECB contract that put him on a qualification path and provided him with a work visa to settle in the country.

But, Usman, in what turned out to be one of the most dramatic poaching, tore up his ECB contract which resulted in a five-year ban from ECB-sanctioned leagues, including cash-rich ILT20 and Abu Dhabi T10.

Things moved on in Pakistan and soon Usman got the much desired Pakistan cap along with Irfan Khan and Abrar Ahmed for the first T20I that was eventually washed out.

He batted in the next two T20Is, but his returns were underwhelming as his international record, to date, reads 12 runs of 13 balls in two innings.

He has fallen to Ish Sodhi on both occasions, which may give the impression of his weakness against leg-spin. But, in the larger scheme of things, off 117 balls that he has faced by a leg-spinner, Usman has scored 207 at a strike rate of 177.

Jotting down a perfect eleven demands each player to be listed at the spot where they can maximise their potential. It is pertinent that the team management is mandated to identify and provide them the environment where they thrive as that will only translate into better outcomes for the side.

Usman’s case, however, has been peculiar as he was selected on the basis of his performances as a top-order batter but is being slotted in the middle order.

Cricket, since the advent of T20, has rapidly transformed into a data-driven game and it has furthered the concept of specialisation. Coaches design their line-ups and strategies using specific match-ups, which also influence in-match tactics — from shuffling batting orders to the deployment of bowlers.

The batters, but especially bowlers, are selected for their utility in particular phases of the game, conditions, and opponents. And, as data suggests, Usman has not been employed effectively — something that Pakistan’s defeat to New Zealand in the third T20I in Rawalpindi put under a microscope.

On Sunday in the third T20I at Rawalpindi, late fireworks from Shadab Khan and Irfan lifted Pakistan to 178 on a flawless pitch of one of the most batting-friendly venues. New Zealand, despite the absence of their main players, made a cakewalk of the target by reaching it 10 balls early with seven wickets intact against a full-strength Pakistan bowling attack.

Never has a side successfully defended a total in Rawalpindi, and Pakistan, in the words of head coach Azhar Mahmood, had admittedly left some runs in the middle. What was needed was a solid foundation by the top order.

Instead, the powerplay, which is an ideal phase of the innings to go berserk with only two fielders outside the circle and a docile Kookaburra offering a plethora of scoring opportunities, produced only 54 runs. The next four overs a mere 30.

This all unfolded as number four-slotted Usman, who, in 2024, has scored at a strike rate of 152.43 with an average of 62.50 in the powerplay, sat in the dugout. Usman has set terrific batting standards this year, getting dismissed just twice in 10 innings he’s opened, all the while scoring over nine runs an over in the first six overs.

He has established his career, scoring 80 per cent of his 1,219 T20 runs in the top three. He has been the most effective at number three, scoring 374 runs at a blistering strike rate of 164.03 and an astronomical average of 124.66. His next best position is the opening, where he has made 601 runs at a strike rate of 151 at an average of 35.35.

His numbers take a serious hit as he moves down the order. At four, where Pakistan have positioned him, Usman strikes at 115.84 and averages 23.40.

The above statistics underline how Usman has not been utilised properly. But, the Pakistan think tank finds itself in a conundrum if they have to promote him up the order.

Who makes the way for Usman? Either Babar Azam or Mohammad Rizwan — two of their best T20I batters in history — or they do away with the promise of dynamic Saim Ayub? Not to forget Fakhar Zaman is waiting for his turn on the bench.

Before the start of the series, Pakistan captain Babar Azam revealed that the team planned to experiment in these five T20Is to find their right eleven before departing for the UK, which will be the last chapter of their T20 World Cup preparations.

One of the experiments in Lahore could be the promotion of Usman. It was here only, a few months back, that Usman, batting at his preferred number three spot, rescued Multan Sultans with a whirlwind 55-ball 96 to script a dominating 60-run win over hosts, Lahore Qalandars.

After all, this is the time to run and try all the possible combinations to get one right.