Pakistan legspinner Usama Mir is set to take a break from his international cricket career after securing a three-year T20 contract with Worcestershire, beginning in 2026.
The 29-year-old cricketer will initially join the English county as an overseas player for the first year of the deal. From 2027 onwards, he will be considered a local player, thanks to his eligibility for naturalisation in the UK, as his spouse is a British citizen.
Although Mir has not officially announced his retirement from Pakistan cricket, this move signals a significant shift in his career.
He was part of a group of players who signed three-year contracts with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in 2023 after lengthy negotiations. However, he was excluded from the PCB’s central contracts list last year.
Mir’s career trajectory with Pakistan has recently seen him fall down the pecking order, with his last international appearance coming in April 2024.
His relationship with the PCB soured further when the board denied him a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to participate in the T20 Blast after Worcestershire Rapids signed him up.
The PCB’s “PSL plus two” policy, which restricts players from competing in more than two foreign T20 leagues in a 12-month period, was cited as the reason behind this decision.
Despite these setbacks, Usama Mir has continued to make a mark in T20 leagues around the world. He has played in various leagues, including the PSL, BBL, and the Hundred. In the 2024 PSL, he was the leading wicket-taker, and he was one of the standout all-rounders in the 2023 T20 Blast for Worcestershire Rapids.
His bowling performance in the last BBL season made him one of the most valuable legspinners in the league, second only to Adam Zampa.
Mir intends to continue playing domestic cricket in Pakistan for the next two seasons. However, once his UK status as a local player kicks in from 2027, he will have to register as an overseas player for domestic competitions in Pakistan.
Worcestershire CEO Ashley Giles expressed his excitement about signing Usama Mir, stating, “He’s a high-calibre cricketer with the skills and temperament to make a real impact at this level.”
The deal gives Worcestershire flexibility in squad planning and reflects the club’s long-term commitment to building a competitive team.
Usama Mir’s move to Worcestershire marks a new chapter in his career, as he steps away from the international cricket scene to focus on his T20 journey in England.
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