'My goal isn't just to play one Test and relax' – Usman Salahuddin on dream debut

Usman Salahuddin will play his 100th first-class match on Thursday 1 June. It will also be his first Test, as Pakistan’s middle-order batsman has been named in the XI for the second Test against England at Headingley.

Like any other batsman, Salahuddin is excited about his Test debut. He describes it as a dream come true.

But he has his sights set firmly on the long game.

“My goal isn’t just to play one Test. Just because I’ve made my debut I won’t relax now,” the 27-year-old said on the eve of the match. “Like how Younis (Khan) bhai made 10,000 runs, and Inzy’s (Inzamam-ul-Haq) performances, like those legends, I too want to play for a long time for Pakistan and perform.”

He names his contemporaries Joe Root and Virat Kohli, and teammates Asad Shafiq and Babar Azam, as players he looks up to. In fact, it was Azam's injury in the first Test that has paved the way for his Test debut – seven long years after he made his one-day international debut for Pakistan.

Salahuddin, as a promising 21-year-old, was included in Pakistan’s tour of the West Indies in 2011. However, he played only two matches and found himself out of contention. He used the time out of the national side to rebuild his confidence and work on his skills, and it’s paid off.

“You shouldn’t get disheartened in cricket. You’ve to bide your time and wait, which I’ve done,” he said.

“I have to give credit to my management. In the last two-three series, I was with the squad. They didn’t let my graph go down, they worked on me and worked on my weak points.”

Pakistan lead the series 1-0 after their nine-wicket win at Lord’s. England will come back strongly, but Salahuddin expects to put to use his experience of the conditions, having played league cricket in Newcastle and Midlands.

“You have to play late, avoid the drive, and wait for the bad ball,” he said. And Pakistan will be hoping they enjoy the fruits of his patience.