Usman Khawaja has hit back at Queensland Cricket over claims he deliberately skipped a Sheffield Shield match to attend the Formula One Australian Grand Prix, calling the accusations “categorically untrue.”
Queensland Cricket general manager Joe Dawes suggested on Wednesday that Khawaja had no reason to miss Queensland’s final regular-season match against South Australia, which ended in a draw on Tuesday.
Board member Ian Healy also criticised Khawaja’s absence, calling it part of a “pick and choose mentality” in his later years.
Khawaja, speaking on Friday, dismissed the claims, stating he had been managing a hamstring injury, which was reported through official channels and known to Cricket Australia and Queensland Cricket’s medical staff.
“There’s a lot of misinformation being thrown around,” Khawaja said. “Joe Dawes came out and said a few inflammatory things, which was really disappointing. Joey said the medical staff had no idea—that is 100% wrong," Khawaja added.
"I was talking to the Australian physio the whole time. It’s on our athlete management system. My hammy is reported, everything is there, everyone knew about it.”
Khawaja further stated that he had agreed with Australia’s selectors to play against Tasmania but sit out the next match before the final.
“We came up with a plan that I would play Tasmania, take the next game off, and then play the Shield final. I’m 38 years old. I can’t burn the candle at both ends,” he said.
Khawaja also defended his trip to Melbourne, saying Australia head coach Andrew McDonald had no issue with it.
“I either go home and curl up in a ball or go watch F1. I still did my rehab, I got three gym sessions in while I was in Melbourne. The optics might look bad, but people don’t have all the facts,” he said.
Queensland will face South Australia in the Sheffield Shield final in Adelaide from Wednesday.
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