Son-of-a-Pakistani gun Usman Qadir has set his sights on representing Australia at the next World Twenty20 tournament in 2020 as he pursues his eligibility for the country.
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Qadir, the son of fellow-legspinner Abdul, played his first game in Australian colours on Wednesday - claiming 3-28 in the Prime Minister's XI's shock win over a near full-strength South Africa.
Having first played grade cricket in Adelaide in 2013, Qadir was spotted and invited to Perth's Big Bash training by now-Australian coach Justin Langer when he took 36 wickets in six Sydney grade games last summer.
The 25-year-old was signed by the Scorchers this season, and made his Sheffield Shield debut for Western Australia this summer having previously played eight first-class matches.
Qadir is not yet eligible to play for Australia but will soon apply for a distinguished talent visa to stay in the country before he aims to earn citizenship and permanent residency in coming years.
"My goal is to play for Australia in 2020 in the T20 World Cup," he said.
"Before that if I get the opportunity to play for Australia in a Test or one-day cricket I would love that."
In the meantime he has focused his attention on the shorter forms of the game, pushing through his legspinners in a bid to push for Australia's T20 team.
Qadir's family line is of unquestionable talent, given his father Abdul took 236 wickets in 67 matches for Pakistan between 1977 and 1990.
Two of Qadir's wickets on Wednesday came with wrong'uns, the first coming back through the gap between bat and pad of a driving Dwaine Pretorius to bowl him for three.
He then cleaned up the tail to have Lungi Ngidi stumped and Imran Tahir lbw with another ball that went the other way in his biggest chance to impress on the main stage.
"There was no turn so I just concentrate on bowling dot balls," Qadir said.
"I'm very happy I gave only 28 runs in 10 overs with one maiden and three wickets. It's pretty good.
"I just concentrate on that because nowadays cricket is getting very fast. The legspinner usually give 55 runs in 10 overs."
Australian Associated Press
