TLDR: Usama Mir: Pakistan’s Leg-Spin Star
Usama Mir is a 29-year-old Pakistani right-arm leg-spin bowler, notably tall at 6 ft 3 in (191 cm).
Key Achievements & Stats:
- PSL Dominance: Mir was the lead wicket-taker in PSL 2024 for the Multan Sultans, securing 24 wickets in 12 matches. He has taken 62 wickets in 49 PSL innings overall.
- International Impact: He made his ODI debut in January 2023 and immediately made headlines by dismissing veteran Kane Williamson with a spinning delivery.
- Unique History: He became the first concussion substitute in World Cup history during the 2023 tournament, replacing Shadab Khan against South Africa.
- Bowling Style: He attributes his recent success to learning “to flight the ball” (a technique refined after shifting from bowling flatter/quicker), which makes him a difficult opponent when bowling in the right areas.
- Current Status: He has taken 15 wickets in 12 ODIs (Avg 42.26) and 5 wickets in 5 T20Is (Avg 35.00) for Pakistan.
Intro
Usama Mir is a prominent Pakistani cricketer known for his right-arm leg spin bowling. Born in Sialkot, Mir was 29 years old as of late 2024/early 2025. His international debut came in ODIs against New Zealand in January 2023. Standing unusually tall for a spinner at 6 ft 3 in (191 cm), Mir quickly established himself as a key wicket-taking option. He has successfully translated a decade-long domestic career into international success, notably leading the wicket charts in the Pakistan Cup and achieving a breakout performance in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). This article explores his comprehensive career stats, his crucial role in Pakistan cricket, and the path ahead for the burgeoning leg-spinner.
The Numbers Behind the Name: Usama Mir Stats Overview
Career Summary Across Formats
Usama Mir has competed across all major formats, both internationally and domestically, primarily utilizing his right-arm leg spin.
| Competition | Matches (M) | Innings (Inns) Bowled | Wickets (Wkts) | Bowling Average (Avg) | Economy (ECN) | Strike Rate (SR) | Best Bowling (BBI) |
| ODI | 12 | 12 | 15 | 42.26 | 5.98 | 42.4 | 4/43 |
| T20I | 5 | 5 | 5 | 35.00 | 8.75 | 24.0 | 2/21 |
| First Class (FC) | 26 | 38 | 47 | 40.0 | 3.72 | N/A | 7/113 |
| List A (LA) | 58 | 57 | 86 | 31.96 | 6.00 | 31.9 | 5/23 |
| T20 (Domestic) | 163 | 159 | 182 | 23.35 | 7.73 | N/A | 6/40 |
Mir made his ODI debut in January 2023 and his T20I debut in January 2024, both against New Zealand. In his short ODI career, he has achieved a best bowling figure of 4 wickets for 43 runs. In the List A format, he has taken five wickets in an innings twice, including a best of 5/23. He also boasts three 5-wicket hauls in First Class cricket, with a best of 7/14. More stat info.
Not Just a Spinner: Usama’s Lower-Order Contributions
While primarily a bowler, Usama Mir is a right-hand bat who contributes valuable runs lower down the order.
In his 12 ODIs, he has scored 40 runs across six innings, with a top score of 20 and a strike rate of 117.64. His highest score in List A cricket is 51, where he averages 11.59. In T20 (Domestic) cricket, he has scored 530 runs in 82 innings at a strike rate of 125.59.
Specifically in PSL, where he has played 49 matches, his batting aggregate is 86 runs in 18 innings, with a high score of 17 and a strike rate of 138.7. His ability to hit boundaries is evident, having struck 6 sixes and 5 fours in PSL cricket.
Usama Mir in PSL: Delivering on the Big Stage
PSL Career Stats and Teams Played For
Usama Mir has been a key player in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), featuring for several teams since 2016.
He began his PSL journey with Karachi Kings, playing for them from 2016 to 2020. More recently, he has played for Multan Sultans, joining them in 2023 and continuing through 2024 and 2025. He also appeared for Islamabad United (ISL) in the bowling stats for 2024.
Overall in PSL:
- Matches Played: 49
- Wickets Taken: 62
- Best Performance (BBI): He has taken 5 wickets in an innings once. He has also taken two wickets 13 times and three wickets 5 times in PSL innings.
- Key Averages: His PSL bowling average is 23.51, and his strike rate is 17.00.
- Team Performance: While playing for Karachi Kings, he took 18 wickets in 20 innings. For Multan Sultans, he has been highly effective, taking 44 wickets in 29 innings with an economy of 8.20.
Crucially, he finished the PSL 2024 season as the lead wicket-taker, securing 24 wickets in 12 matches for the Multan Sultans. He maintained a bowling economy rate of 8.13 during this tournament.
Breakout Matches and Fan-Favorite Spells
Mir’s career features several highly impactful bowling performances:
- Debut Stunner (International): Usama Mir made a sensational ODI debut against New Zealand in January 2023, capturing the crucial wicket of Kane Williamson. He got into his unique bowling action and produced a leg-spin delivery that turned past the veteran batsman to hit the top of the off stump, leaving Williamson “stunned” and nodding in admiration. Mir finished that debut match with two wickets in total.
- Pakistan Cup Dominance: Before his international call-up, Mir was the highest wicket-taker during the 2022/23 Pakistan Cup (National 50-over tournament), achieving 28 wickets at an excellent average of 17.96. This performance earned him his first call-up to the national side. He also achieved a career-best of 5-23 in the semi-final of the Pakistan Cup 2022/23.
- PSL 9 Triumph: He created history in a clash where Multan Sultans defeated Lahore Qalandars during the PSL 9 season.
Usama Mir also made history in the 2023 Cricket World Cup when he became the first concussion substitute in World Cup history, replacing Shadab Khan in the game against South Africa. In that match, he picked up important scalps, including Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram, finishing with 2 wickets for 45 runs off eight overs.
What Makes Usama Mir Stand Out Among Pakistan’s Spinners?
Bowling Style and Strengths
Usama Mir is a right-arm leg spin bowler. He is notably unusually tall for a spinner, standing at six feet three inches (191 cm). His bowling development shows a shift in technique that has contributed significantly to his recent success:
- Learning to Flight the Ball: Mir noted that earlier in his career he used to bowl “flatter and quicker”. However, after spending time training at the Lahore Qalandars High-Performance Centre and bowling long spells in first-class cricket, he learned to flight the ball.
- Success through Control: He applied the lesson of flighting the ball to the white-ball game and found success. Mir believes that if a leg-spinner bowls in the right areas, they are always a difficult opponent to play against.
His height and the ability to extract extra bounce or movement due to his unique action could differentiate him from traditional leggies.
Competition in the National Setup
Mir operates in a competitive landscape filled with other talented Pakistani spinners and all-rounders, including Shadab Khan, Abrar Ahmed, and Mohammad Nawaz.
- Direct Competition: Usama Mir found himself in direct competition with fellow spinner Shadab Khan, whom he notably replaced as the concussion substitute during the 2023 World Cup.
- Support Amid Criticism: Shadab Khan publicly supported Usama Mir, noting that criticism should only come “After 1 Game…” amid heavy criticism directed towards Mir.
- Selector Views: While specific quotes from selectors are limited, Mushtaq Ahmed named Usama Mir among Pakistan’s four best current spinners, confirming his standing in the national conversation.
The sources suggest Mir’s success in domestic cricket (highest wicket-taker in the Pakistan Cup) and the PSL (lead wicket-taker in PSL 2024) positions him strongly within this competitive spinning group.
What’s Next for Usama Mir? Potential and Expectations
Areas of Growth and Team Fit
Usama Mir recognized that making his international debut was a “dream come true” and that he has already set goals for his future career.
- Goal Setting: He stated he is committed to working really hard to perform well in upcoming series.
- Self-Improvement: Mir is focused on improving himself and aims to perform “even better”. His shift in bowling technique—learning to flight the ball after spending time in red-ball domestic cricket—shows his commitment to growth.
T20 World Cup or Future Bilateral Series as Key Opportunities
Mir’s impressive form, particularly leading the wicket charts in PSL 2024, makes him a strong contender for Pakistan’s white-ball squads. The ICC 50-over World Cup, scheduled to be held on India’s spin-friendly wickets, was viewed as a major upcoming opportunity for him, given his domestic and early international performance. The T20 World Cup 2024 was also mentioned in connection with his activity. Achieving his goals of improvement is crucial to cementing his role in these high-stakes global tournaments.
FAQs
1. What are Usama Mir’s ODI and T20I bowling stats as of 2025?
As of the date of the source materials, Usama Mir’s international bowling statistics are:
ODI (12 Matches, 12 Innings): 15 wickets, Bowling Average of 42.26, Economy of 5.98, and Best Figures of 4/43.
T20I (5 Matches, 5 Innings): 5 wickets, Bowling Average of 35.00, Economy of 8.75, and Best Figures of 2/21.
2. How many wickets has Usama Mir taken in PSL?
Usama Mir has taken a total of 62 wickets across 49 PSL matches (49 innings bowled). His best performance in the tournament saw him take 5 wickets in an innings once. He was the lead wicket-taker in PSL 2024, securing 24 wickets in 12 matches for the Multan Sultans.
3. What makes Usama Mir’s bowling style unique?
Usama Mir is noted for being unusually tall for a spinner, standing at 6 ft 3 in (191 cm). He bowls right-arm leg spin. He developed his bowling effectiveness by learning to flight the ball after recognizing that he previously bowled flatter and quicker; he believes this control and placement makes him a difficult bowler to face. His early career highlight involved bowling a stunning delivery to dismiss Kane Williamson on his ODI debut.