An ECB statement said the decision had been taken after Usman was found to have “breached his obligations to the Emirates Cricket Board”.
The board accused Usman of misrepresenting its intentions. “Usman was found to have misrepresented to the ECB about his decision to play for the UAE team and took advantage of the opportunities and development provided to him by the ECB to pursue other prospects and it was evident that he no longer wanted to play for the ECB. nor complete the eligibility criteria that he was required to meet.
Disciplinary action was widely expected to be taken against Usman, although the severity of the punishment and the combative tone adopted by the ECB show the strength of feeling on the board. Usman was on course to qualify for the United Arab Emirates, having apparently given up hopes of playing for Pakistan. He competed in Abu Dhabi T10 and ILT20 as a local player for the UAE and, as recently as last month, played in the Pakistan Super League as a foreign player.
However, his performances in that tournament turned the tide. He finished as the second highest run-scorer despite playing only seven of 11 games for Multan Sultans, scoring two of the tournament’s four centuries. In an interview with ESPNcricinfo on the eve of the final, he appeared to express little interest in playing for Pakistan, but when he was called up for a training camp with the rest of the Pakistan team, he accepted.
Speaking to ESPNcricinfo after his call-up, Usman believed he had not breached any contract and refuted that his contract included an exit clause with a 30-day notice period. He resigned himself to whatever sanction the ECB imposed and said the lure of playing for Pakistan when the PCB came calling after the PSL was too attractive to turn down.
It is not yet clear whether the ban means that Usman’s work permit will also be revoked, but either way, the events of recent weeks have effectively closed the door on the prospects of Usman ever playing for the United Arab Emirates. His most immediate concern is Pakistan’s upcoming T20I series against New Zealand, for which he is expected to be included in the squad. The T20 World Cup, one of the main reasons Usman wanted to play for Pakistan, will take place in June in the United States and the West Indies.