Late Pakistani leg-spinner Abdul Qadir had a dream that his son follows in his footsteps and represent his country in international cricket. However, Usman had other plans and moved to Australia in hopes of representing them in cricket, albeit with the blessing of his famous father.

However, after years of trying suddenly things changed for Usman and he finds himself close to donning an international team’s jersey in cricket, but it won’t be Australia, but Pakistan, as he was named in their squad for Australia T20I series.

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In what was a shock and controversial selection by Misbah-Ul-Haq, Qadir may turn his father’s dream a reality after all. However, he has been accused of turning his back on Australia cricket system who have given him fame and fortune, but Usman had refuted claims of doing a U-Turn.

"My ambition was to play for Australia before. I said to my father I did not get any chances to play in Pakistan. I wanted to go to Australia and wanted to make a career over there. My father said, 'My wish is for (you) to play for Pakistan, for your own country. If you want to go there (to Australia), you can – it's your own decision. But my dream is for you to play for Pakistan," Qadir explained to cricket.com.au.

The 26-year-old further said, "The PCB put my name in for the national T20 (domestic tournament). I played four games there, I did not take lots of wickets, but the selectors really liked me and said, 'We're going to pick you'. I said, 'Okay that's fine.'

Usman had hoped to play for Australia in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2020 but mentioned that his chances of long-term visa by that time were slim. Qadir had been in the process of applying for a permanent Australian visa having represented Western Australia and the Perth Scorchers.

But with a long-term Australian visa elusive, Qadir played four games for Central Punjab in Pakistan's domestic T20 competition earlier this month and impressed new head coach-cum national selector Misbah-Ul-Haq enough to be picked in the side.

"That's not a U-turn. I played all the cricket but unfortunately, if I wanted to play T20 for Australia, I have to be a local there. Everyone said to me that I had made a U-turn – I didn't make a U-turn. I didn't make any decision like this. I said before that I wanted to play for Australia but … it's a big opportunity to play for your own country,” Usman says.

Qadir has played in BBL and wants to continue doing so as an international. He says, "They are very good people and when I got selected for the Pakistan team, they messaged me and congratulated me, and that's a good sign. I really learnt a lot in Australia, playing in the Big Bash and in the (domestic) one-dayers. I don't know what they (the Australians) are going to say to me.”

(Cricket.com.au inputs)