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Usman Khawaja is under scrutiny for allegedly faking an injury to skip Queensland’s crucial Sheffield Shield match.
Usman Khawaja (right) with his wife Rachel during Australian GP. (Pic Credit: IG/usman_khawajy)
Australia batter Usman Khawaja is reportedly unhappy after claims over him lying about being injured to skip his domestic team Queensland’s crunch Sheffield Shield fixture against South Australia. Khawaja reportedly cited hamstring injury and an ankle issue that flared up during Australia’s Sri Lanka tour as the reasons behind his unavailability, but he stoked controversy after attending all five days of the Formula 1 2025 season opening Australian Grand Prix with his wife.
Khawaja, despite the injury concerns, reportedly didn’t plan to participate in any Sheffield Shield game upon his return from the two-Test tour of Sri Lanka. With Queensland needing a win against Tasmania to keep their hopes of qualifying for the final alive, he made an appearance despite a suffering minor hamstring issue on match eve.
The 38-year-old scored a century and 33 not out in a nine-wicket win.
With his fitness concerns worsening, the veteran opener chose to not play in Queensland’s final league fixture against South Australia which ended in a draw and thus secured them a spot in the final.
Queensland Cricket General Joe Dawes then made explosive remarks on Wednesday that Khawaja isn’t carrying an injury citing reports from the team’s medical staff.
“Our medical staff said all the way through he has been available for selection. That is my understanding from Cricket Australia staff as well. No hamstring issues as far as we are concerned. I go off our medical staff and there is no reason why he could not have played the last game. It’s just disappointing he didn’t play a game for Queensland when he had an opportunity to,” Dawes said.
“I have got a bunch of blokes here that all want to play. I think we are disappointed he did not play the game against South Australia. That’s the decision he made and he has communicated some of the reasons for that in the public. Hopefully he will make that decision to make himself available (for the final) for next week and we will make that decision on Friday,” he added.
“The board should be aghast that Usman Khawaja has chosen not to play the last round of the Sheffield Shield competition to get his state into the final,” Healy said on SEN Radio. “To Cricket Australia – your contracted player doesn’t play your long-standing competition. Our cricket needs to be built on integrity, skill and ‘ticker’, not absence.”