Usman Khan Shinwari Career

Usman Khan Shinwari is another addition to the long list of fiery Pakistani left-arm Pacers that continue to garner attention on the international stage. Hailing from the former FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) region, Usman made an impression early on in his career when as a teenager, he picked up a five-wicket haul in the final of the Faysal Bank Department T20 Cup in 2013. A slingy bowling action that allows him the natural outswinger away from the right-handed batsman, Usman helped his team ZTBL storm to victory against SNGPL returning exceptional figures of 5/9 including the prized scalp of Misbah-ul-Haq. The blistering spell of fast bowling allowed him to be fast-tracked into the national side for the home series against Sri Lanka in the United Arab Emirates the same year. However, things did not go according to plan and Usman suffered at the hands of the Sri Lankan batsmen who frequently dispatched his deliveries to the boundary fence.

In the intervening years before Usman staged a comeback to the national side, he was able to put on profitable outings in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), representing the Karachi Kings. He made his ODI debut in October 2017 against Sri Lanka but it was his second one-day international appearance that brought him into the limelight. Usman scythed through Sri Lanka’s top order on a slow surface at Sharjah to claim his maiden fifer in just 21 balls, becoming the fastest bowler to 5 wickets in a single ODI. Usman’s exploits with the ball earned him the man of the match award in Pakistan’s comprehensive win over the subcontinent rivals.

A slump in form and a persisting back injury plagued his consistency, forcing him to frequently warm the bench as other bowlers were prioritized over him. Usman experienced a resurgence in the form once again during the tour to South Africa in 2019 when he delivered a match-winning spell of 4/35 in Pakistan’s victory in the fourth ODI. Usman’s fearsome pace rattled South Africa’s lower order when he picked up 3 wickets in a single over to stem the Proteas momentum. Despite decent performances in the subsequent ODI series against Australia in the UAE, Usman was overlooked for selection in the 2019 World Cup.

Boasting a smooth run-up characterized by an initial lunge in his bowling stride, Usman’s deceptive pace often hurries onto the batsmen. With age on his side, he could well climb the ladder of excellence in the years to come.