Pakistan great Abdul Qadir's son chosen for Australian PM's XI

E-Paper | April 27, 2026

The son of legendary leg-spinner Abdul Qadir has been included in an Australia Prime Minister's XI to play a tour match against South Africa in Canberra.

The 25-year-old Usman Qadir's father took 236 wickets in 67 Tests from 1977 to 1990 and is generally regarded as Pakistan's best-ever leg-spinner.

The Lahore-born Usman, who moved to Australia in 2016 saying he was disenchanted with the politics surrounding the sport in his homeland, played grade cricket in Sydney last season and also had an earlier stint in the Adelaide club competition.

Usman Qadir, who also played first-class cricket in Pakistan, took 36 wickets in just six games in Sydney, figures that brought him to the attention of current Australia coach Justin Langer and former test bowler Geoff Lawson.

Qadir is not yet eligible to play for Australia. He's hoping to qualify for a distinguished talent visa in time to be considered for Australia for the 2020 World Twenty20 tournament, which will be held in eight Australian cities.

The Prime Minister's XI match is scheduled to be a day-nighter at Manuka Oval on Oct. 31, and will be South Africa's only warmup for a series involving three one-day matches and a T20 against Australia.

The series will be the first between Australia and South Africa since the ball-tampering scandal in March that resulted in Australia's test captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner and opening batsman Cameron Bancroft receiving lengthy suspensions and the eventual resignation of coach Darren Lehmann.

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Sport

Tickets for HBL PSL 11 final to go on sale from April 27

Qalandars end Zalmi’s unbeaten run, stay in hunt for playoffs

Kings knocked out of PSL despite nine-wicket demolition of Gladiators

Parvez

Oct 19, 2018 12:55pm

...... and why not.

Recommend 0

Aamir

Oct 19, 2018 12:59pm

First Imran Tahir and now Qadir. Speaks a lot for our transparent selection committee. Well done guys keep it up until all the remaining talent drains out of the country.

Recommend 0

Sarai Alamgir

Oct 19, 2018 01:17pm

Great for him...…..the only advice I would have is...…..keep you celebration short, as compared to Imran Tahir. All the best.

Recommend 0

Babar Hussain

Oct 19, 2018 01:30pm

great's son cannot be great... and abdul qadir was by no measure a great cricket player. Why do we have to put average cricket players in the upper ladder of greats ? Abdul qadir was an average player who happened to play udner a great captain.

Recommend 0

Vikas

Oct 19, 2018 01:35pm

Before he plays for Australia, he must send 2000 Dollars to Pakistan. 1000 for the dam fund and 1000 for the balance of payment crisis fund.

Recommend 0

Fuzail Z. Ahmad

Oct 19, 2018 01:50pm

@Aamir sahib, there is enough spinning talent available in the country. Qadir's son I am sure could not prove his worth on our dead wickets, a feature that enables only the best of the bowlers to shine.

Recommend 0

Ahmed

Oct 19, 2018 02:14pm

Pakistan's loss, however, it's not just cricketer's we lose. Our best and brightest people in every field of endeavour live abroad.

Recommend 0

Philosopher (From Japan)

Oct 19, 2018 02:20pm

First his son in law (akmal) and now his son. Then imam Ul haq (inzimam nephew). What is the fault of Fawad Alam? What is the meaning of Nepotism?

Recommend 0

Koshur

Oct 19, 2018 02:37pm

@Philosopher (From Japan) fawad needs to build some muscles so that the ball crosses the pitch if not boundry

Recommend 0

Ahmed

Oct 19, 2018 03:00pm

@Vikas If India paid compensation for the India- Pak series that it agreed to and then reneg

Recommend 0

anjum

Oct 19, 2018 04:17pm

Good job. Pakistan deserve this

Recommend 0

Cornered tigers

Oct 19, 2018 04:57pm

@Sarai Alamgir He can celebrate whichever way he wants. That’s his right. Just be respectful.

Recommend 0

Waseem Sarwar

Oct 19, 2018 06:49pm

He looked pretty ordinary for Lahore Qalandars whenever he played for them in youth competitions. If he couldn't get a game over Raza Hassan and Zafar Gohar, there was no way he was going to play ahead of Shadabs, Yasirs or Bilal's. He can try his luck in Australia but I doubt he is good enough to play for their national side, not today, not in 10 years.

Recommend 0

Talha

Oct 19, 2018 07:01pm

Usman Qadir is an average bowler who was given countless opportunities. He featured for Pakistan Under 19 in two Under 19 World Cups and didn't impress in either of the two tournaments. Later, in a classic example of nepotism he was selected as an emerging player for Lahore Qalanders before the second PSL season. Lahore Qalanders did a talent scout across the country and found some genuinely new talent but Usman wasn't one of them. Usman had already played for the Under 19 team but still was pushed through Lahore Qalanders. He played a few matches in PSL and didn't impress at all. Usman still might become a good bowler considering the infrastructure in Australia.

Recommend 0

AZulfi

Oct 19, 2018 08:01pm

@Babar Hussain Lets not under exaggerate either. Qadir was not great but by no measure was he an ordinary player either. True he played under a great captain but Viv, Imran, Benaud and Warne all spoke very highly of him. Infact Warne approached Qadir for some coaching tips during his initial years

Recommend 0

Ayaz Arshad

Oct 19, 2018 08:16pm

@Aamir Please do not compare both Imran Tahir and Usman Qadir together. Imran Tahir is much more skilled as compared to son of Qadir

Recommend 0

IQBAL HADI ZAIDI

Oct 19, 2018 09:38pm

Most of us have a habit either to overestimate or under estimate but rarely tell the naked truth. Here Abdul Qadir is called great but under what pretext and parameters? Likewise his son who did not perform as expected of him in Pakistan had no option but to try his luck in Australia but some are portraying as if Pakistan has lost a great cricketer. Did Australia ask him to play in Australia? He learnt cricket ABC in Pakistan so he owes to Pakistan come what may even if he turns out to be the best cricketer on the face of earth. I wish he shines in Australia but don’t scold Pakistan in any case I very politely and sincerely advise. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi

Recommend 0

Mamoon Rashid

Oct 19, 2018 10:48pm

@Babar Hussain: Your comments are flawed have no credibility. The fact is Great captain was great simply because he had the luxury having of such a great talented team around him whether it be Miandad, Abdul Qadir, Wasim Raja or others. without the support of the entire team he was nothing. AND it was only because of this "Magician" Abdul Qadir's Googly that made the opposition head spun all over the ground. Even the great Shane Warne in his times had to learn the the magical spin from him to make himself count as world class bowler. Don't disrespect. Give credit where its due!

Recommend 0

Ahmed

Oct 19, 2018 11:41pm

@IQBAL HADI ZAIDI If you followed cricket closely, you would know that he was the best in the world in his art and in his time, and certainly the best Pakistan ever had. IK recognized his talent early and supported him all the way.

Recommend 0

Hassan

Oct 20, 2018 07:41am

It wasn't mentioned that what kind of bowler is he?

Recommend 0

Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Oct 20, 2018 02:27pm

Like father, like son. Keep it up and hang on tough.

Recommend 0

Oct 20, 2018 04:32pm

It is not only the selection committee, it is a Mafia to discourage the best talent. This is done in every sphere. Mr. Imran now has a chance to cure this cancer..

Recommend 0

ammar

Oct 22, 2018 10:54am

@Vikas Get a life bro :)

Recommend 0

Branded Content

Indus Cloud signs strategic partnership agreement with PTCL to deliver cloud excellence

The partnership marks a significant step in Indus Cloud’s and PTCL’s joint efforts to strengthen Pakistan’s cloud and data centre infrastructure and expand access to enterprise-grade digital services in the country.