Khawaja creates controversy
Usman Khawaja, Australia’s opener, has found himself in the middle of a controversy. He decided to skip Queensland’s important match against South Australia to attend the Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne with his wife, Rachel. Initially, reports suggested that Khawaja skipped the game to stay fresh for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa in June. It was later revealed that Khawaja was dealing with a niggle from the previous game where he scored a century against Tasmania.
Disappointment from Queensland Cricket
Joe Dawes, Queensland Cricket’s head of elite cricket, expressed his disappointment over Khawaja’s decision. “Reports ke mutaabik medical staff ka kehna hai ki woh khel sakte the. Yeh disappointing hai ki unhone Queensland ke liye khelne ka mauka chhoda,” Dawes ne News Corp ko bataya. Khawaja’s decision could jeopardize his spot in the final against South Australia.
Lyon’s similar but less controversial move
Interestingly, Test specialist spinner Nathan Lyon was also seen at the F1 race but hasn’t faced the same level of scrutiny. Lyon has opted out of all Sheffield Shield games for New South Wales since returning from the Sri Lanka tour, citing “workload” issues.
Questions raised about players skipping games
Journalist Robert Craddock questioned Lyon’s decision, saying, “Mujhe bataya gaya ki Lyon workload issues ke wajah se nahi khel rahe hain. Sach mein? Ek spin bowler jiska next first-class game do mahine baad hai. Steve Smith pichhle weekend America mein the jab NSW khel rahi thi.” Craddock further added, “Yeh ek common baat ho gayi hai ki players nahi khelte, khaaskar jab NSW mein itne Test players hain.”
Khawaja’s future with Queensland team uncertain
Queensland will play against South Australia in the Shield final next week in Adelaide. Khawaja’s participation remains uncertain, given his current strained relationship with the state team.
Labuschagne supports Khawaja’s decision
However, fellow Queensland and Australia batter Marnus Labuschagne supported Khawaja. “Hum samajhte hain ki agar hum unse best performance chahte hain, toh unhe fresh rehna hoga taki woh injured na ho,” Labuschagne ne kaha.
Latest updates on the controversy
This incident has sparked debate about players prioritizing personal engagements over state-level matches. While Khawaja maintains his decision was influenced by injury, the optics of attending a high-profile event like the F1 race haven’t helped his case. The controversy underscores the delicate balance between player workload, team obligations, and personal commitments in the world of professional cricket. It will be interesting to see how this situation unfolds in the coming days, and what impact it has on Khawaja’s future selection in the Queensland team.
