Once dreaming of playing for Australia, Usman Qadir vows to carry on father’s legacy

KARACHI: Young leg spinner Usman Qadir has vowed to carry on the legacy of his late father Abdul Qadir after the 26-year old bowler was named in Pakistan’s T20 squad for the tour of Australia.

Qadir, one of five new faces in Pakistan’s squad for T20Is and Tests against Australia, said that he is the custodian of googly which was reinvented by his late father.

“Googly was my father’s gift, I am the custodian of the gift and would want to use it at the international level to the best of my ability,” says Usman Qadir in an interview released by the PCB.

Qadir was once dreaming of playing for Australia and was almost near to his dream. He also played for Australian PM XI against South Africa earlier and had a Big Bash League stint with Perth Scorchers last season.

His experience of playing in Australia has given him an edge over other competitors in spin department.

“I am really happy at my inclusion in the national team. I have good experience of Australian pitches and conditions, I would try my best to live-up to the expectations of the head coach and selectors,” he added.

Usman is son of former spin legend Abdul Qadir and the young spinner is confident of carrying his late father’s legacy.

“My father re-invented the googly and I feel that I am its custodian, I learned a lot from him and now is the time to deliver, when I left for Australia my father asked me to give it my all to don Pakistan colours and I am proud that I have made it to the national squad،” he said.

“Leg-spinner, googly and flipper are my main weapons, I am confident that I can trouble the batsmen on Australian pitches with these three deliveries,” he added.

Usman has also remained part of PSL team Lahore Qalandars, which played an influential part in having him picked by Australian teams.

He also toured Australia as captain of Lahore Qalandars’ development squad in 2017. It is believed that the Qalandars' management played a part in convincing him to stay in contention for Pakistan.

The youngster added that he can’t be like his father but will try to apply what he has learnt from him.

“I’m trying to bowl googly like him and you will see it soon,” he concluded.

Pakistan cricket team will leave for Australia on October 26 to play a series of three T20Is and two Tests. The Test matches are part of ICC World Test Championship.