Former Australian Test captain Mark Taylor has expressed disappointment in Usman Khawaja’s handling of his recent withdrawal from a match against South Australia, following allegations of a hamstring injury. Khawaja, citing a minor hamstring issue, withdrew from the game, which upset senior officials at Queensland cricket when he was seen on the grid at the Australian Grand Prix the next day.
Queensland cricket chief Joe Dawes stated that neither he nor his medical team had been informed of Khawaja’s injury and labelled his absence as “disappointing.” Former Test keeper Ian Healy also criticized Khawaja, suggesting he displayed a “pick and choose mentality” regarding his commitments to Queensland cricket. Both Dawes and Healy implied that Khawaja may have exaggerated his injury to attend the F1 event.
Khawaja responded to these comments, rejecting the allegations as “shocking” and untrue, insisting he had consulted with Australian physios prior to his withdrawal. Taylor acknowledged that the situation could stem from a “miscommunication” but suggested that Khawaja could have taken greater accountability to clarify his absence to Queensland’s administration.
On a sports program, Taylor noted Khawaja’s senior status as a former Queensland captain and indicated the responsibility he had to inform the Queensland cricket hierarchy of his decision not to play. He remarked that this lack of communication was not a good look for the administration, especially as Queensland approached a crucial Shield final.
Despite the controversy, the Bulls managed to secure a draw against South Australia, allowing them to qualify for the final against the same team. Sources indicated that after Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka, Khawaja was unlikely to return to the Shield tournament; however, he opted to play in the final match, highlighting his determination to contribute.
Taylor commented on Khawaja’s awareness of how poorly skipping the match would be perceived, emphasising that Khawaja should have communicated his intentions to Queensland cricket. He remarked that by doing so, Khawaja could have avoided the fallout that erupted from his decision to attend the F1 race instead of playing for his state team. Overall, the situation highlights the complexities of player commitments and communication within professional sports.