T20 World Cup: Usman Khan's UAE peers 'happy and sad' after switch to Pakistan

Social media appearances can be deceiving, but judged by his output in recent days, Usman Khan is precisely where he has always wanted to be.

This week he shared a tweet showing himself holding court in front of the Pakistan squad in Dallas, where they start their T20 World Cup campaign against the USA on Thursday.

Some of the sport’s biggest stars were hanging on his every word. Gary Kirsten, the new coach, was trying to make sense of it. Babar Azam was attempting to film it on his phone, in between fits of laughter. Shaheen Afridi held his shades.

Usman could scarcely have looked more comfortable in the company of greats. It is remarkable to think it is still only a little over two months since he was still contemplating a future with the UAE team.

The 29-year-old batter has still yet to return to the shared accommodation in Hor Al Anz, near the end of the Dubai International Airport runway, where he is technically still resident.

Some fun time #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/67c6vS47k5

His elevation from aspiring UAE international to World Cup-bound with Pakistan all started with an extraordinary sequence of innings, including back-to-back centuries, in the Pakistan Super League.

His form made it impossible for Pakistan to neglect him any longer. He was invited to a training camp organised by the army in Abbottabad, and was made to choose: home nation Pakistan, or adopted one UAE?

Plumping for the former, it earned him a five-year ban from Emirates Cricket Board-sanctioned events. Most of his peers accepted it was the obvious choice to make, but some of those he has left behind have mixed feelings.

“I feel sad at the same time because I invested in him so much so he could be used for the UAE,” said Taher Hasan. “Anyhow,