SEN’s chief, Craig Hutchison, has announced that the organisation will no longer seek interviews with Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja. This decision follows Khawaja’s recent refusal to engage with SEN commentators during the first Test against the West Indies, which he declined after learning the broadcaster’s identity. His decision appears to stem from Hutchison’s controversial dismissal of esteemed journalist Peter Lalor during Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka, a move linked to Lalor’s social media support for Palestine.
Khawaja publicly expressed his dismay over Lalor’s firing, articulating that support for Gaza should not be mistaken for antisemitism, asserting it targets the actions of the Israeli government, not Jewish individuals. Hutchison faced backlash for claiming that Lalor’s voice “made people feel unsafe” due to his views on the Israeli attack on Gaza. When addressing Khawaja’s refusal to interview, Hutchison insisted he was unaware of the specific reasons but respects Khawaja’s choice not to speak with them.
During a podcast discussion, Hutchison noted he would assume the refusal was connected to the Lalor incident. He reiterated that whether Khawaja spoke to them or not would not impact SEN’s ability to cover cricket effectively. Hutchison emphasised his respect for Khawaja and acknowledged his significant contribution to Australian cricket.
In light of Khawaja’s stance, Hutchison confirmed SEN would refrain from requesting interviews with him in the future. He expressed that while the situation was complex, it wasn’t productive to revisit the details of Lalor’s dismissal further. Following Khawaja’s refusal, commentator Bharat Sundaresan also released a statement on social media.
SEN Cricket finds itself in a challenging position as it navigates the fallout from this situation, compounded by reports that other journalists have also declined interviews with the network to show support for Lalor. Amidst heightened sensitivities in the Australian community regarding various issues, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Hutchison acknowledged the responsibility to approach the matter with care and respect.