Today in Sports
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket
  • DMCA
  • Disclaimer
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket
No Result
View All Result
Today in Sports
No Result
View All Result

Sheffield Shield 2025-25 – ‘That is 100% wrong’ – Emotional Usman Khawaja insists Queensland knew about his injury

March 21, 2025
in Cricket
0
Home Cricket
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


You might also like

‘I don’t want to be where I was a couple of years ago’

James Anderson reveals the toughest batter among the ‘Fab Four’ of world cricket

Bangladesh Playing 11 vs Sri Lanka- 1st Test, Bangladesh Tour of Sri Lanka 2025

An emotional Usman Khawaja said he was disappointed and devastated by accusations that he had opted out of a Sheffield Shield game, claiming both Queensland Cricket and Cricket Australia knew about his hamstring injury and that no one from Queensland had contacted him about it. But he confirmed he will play for his state in next week’s Shield final against South Australia in Adelaide.

Khawaja held a 17-minute press conference ahead of Queensland training in Brisbane on Friday to explain his side of the story after Queensland Cricket general manager Joe Dawes had claimed on Wednesday that Khawaja did not have any hamstring issues that they were aware of and said, “it’s just disappointing he didn’t play a game for Queensland when he had an opportunity to.”

Queensland Cricket board member Ian Healy had also made strong comments on his SEN radio show saying, “It’s just this pick and choose mentality that has been evident in his later years that Queensland haven’t been happy with.”

Khawaja hit back on Friday with a passionate defence of his injury and his actions, after missing the game against South Australia at Karen Rolton Oval last week and travelling to Melbourne to watch the Australian Formula One Grand Prix.

“There’s a lot of misinformation being thrown around,” Khawaja said. “The most disappointing thing was, I try to keep this as in-house as possible behind the scenes. It’s obviously not anymore. Joe Dawes came out the other day and said a few inflammatory things, which was really disappointing to me as a player, and after that, I just felt like I had to speak up and say something, and give my side a story.

“Joey said that the medical staff had no idea. That is 100% wrong. I’ve talked to both our physios. I’ve talked to the Australian physio. I was talking to the Australian physio the whole time. It’s on our athlete management system (AMS). My hammy is reported. Everything is there. Everyone knew about it. That was probably one of the most shocking things I heard. It was really disappointing because it’s categorically untrue. So I just wanted to clear that up, that the physios 100% knew about my hammy injury.”

Khawaja, 38, said that when he returned from Sri Lanka he was managing a hamstring impingement, a torn rotator cuff and a calf niggle that had arisen during his 232 not out in the first Test in Galle.

“To be honest, the other bit about me not wanting to play for Queensland was probably the most disheartening thing. The amount I’ve given to Queensland, just like Joey would have given too, you give your heart and soul. You can tell I get a bit emotional, you give a heart and soul for this organization.”

Usman Khawaja

Following a lengthy discussion with Australia’s chairman of selectors George Bailey, Khawaja said a plan was put in place for the end of the Shield season before he would have all of April and May off ahead of the World Test Championship final.

“We came up with a plan that I would play Tasmania and I would take the next game off,” Khawaja said. “And these are all fluid, but at the moment, I played Tasmania, took the next game off with the light of playing the Shield final. We’re trying to avoid me playing back-to-back games. I’m 38 years old guys. I can’t burn the candle at both ends.

“I do have to look after myself in some respect, and Queensland Cricket do know that. I texted [Queensland coach] Johan Botha and let him know. I didn’t really get a reply.”

Khawaja also said he had a fitness test with Queensland physio Stephen Timms on his hamstring before the Tasmania game and could only run at 70%. He then said both Bailey and Australian team physio Nick Jones reached out after the match regarding his hamstring.

“I said, the hammy’s not great,” Khawaja said. “It’s feeling like it’s gonna pop. I think we should stick to the same plan that we had. And [Jones] was, like, 100% agree. It’s too much risk for you to go out and play back-to-back games.

“I’m happy to do what’s best for Queensland cricket always,” Usman Khawaja said•Getty Images

“It’s a no brainer. So that was decided. Then George Bailey messaged me, and he said, ‘How’s everything going? What’s happening with QC?’ I said I haven’t heard from anyone in QC from when that Tasmanian game finished. I didn’t hear from Joe Dawes. I don’t hear from Botha. I don’t hear from any medical staff in Queensland Cricket. So I assumed everything was fine.

“And then a few days later, I started hearing murmurs and reports about me opting out and all this stuff. And I was fuming. I was actually really devastated. I was really disappointed. A board member started to attack me, which was really disappointing for me.

“To be honest, the other bit about me not wanting to play for Queensland was probably the most disheartening thing. The amount I’ve given to Queensland, just like Joey would have given too, you give your heart and soul. You can tell I get a bit emotional, you give a heart and soul for this organization.”

It is understood Khawaja did not have a scan on his hamstring after the Tasmania game. He went on to say that he could see why his appearance at the Formula One Grand Prix garnered some criticism but he said he was still doing his rehab while he was away and had spoken to Australia’s coach Andrew McDonald about it.

“I talked to Andrew McDonald yesterday, and he’s like, ‘Uzi, what you do with your spare time I have no issue with whatsoever’,” Khawaja said. “I either go home and curl up in a ball or I go watch F1 at the end of the day. I’m still doing my rehab. I still got three gym sessions in while I was away in Melbourne. I still look after my body. It’s not by any coincidence that I’m 38 years old and still playing cricket. Behind the scenes I do a lot of work, and I’m very professional about what I do. So yeah, look, I understand people look at it and they don’t have all the facts and the optics look bad. But I think that’s what was frustrating me, and that’s why I wanted to speak out.”

Botha had missed a Shield game earlier in the season to compete in an ultra-marathon.

Khawaja said he was willing to push his hamstring for the Shield final knowing that he has a 10-week break before the WTC final in June.

“I’m not the guy who hold grudges,” Khawaja said. “I’m happy to do what’s best for Queensland cricket always.

“Hammy is feeling pretty good. I’ve gone pretty hard on some of my loading on it over the last week and a half. I haven’t sprinted yet, so that’s the final thing. So I’ll have a little run today. I’ll have another little run on Sunday. And obviously, if everything’s going well, yeah, I should be fine. To be honest, if it feels like it still did in Tassie, I’m still willing to push for the Shield final. Was just hard to push for the game before, knowing that if I injured myself then I was gone for the Shield final.”

Alex Malcolm is an associate editor at ESPNcricinfo



Source link

Tags: bulletincricketdailyemotionalheadlinesinjuryinsistsKhawajaknewNewspackageQueenslandSheffieldShieldUsmanWrong
Share30Tweet19

Recommended For You

‘I don’t want to be where I was a couple of years ago’

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 16, 2025
0
‘I don’t want to be where I was a couple of years ago’

Karun Nair described the end of 2022 as the darkest phase of his cricketing career. The 33-year-old has made a remarkable return to the Indian Test squad after...

Read more

James Anderson reveals the toughest batter among the ‘Fab Four’ of world cricket

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 16, 2025
0
James Anderson reveals the toughest batter among the ‘Fab Four’ of world cricket

The term “Fab Four” in modern cricket refers to four of the finest batters of this generation: Virat Kohli (India), Steve Smith (Australia), Kane Williamson (New Zealand), and...

Read more

Bangladesh Playing 11 vs Sri Lanka- 1st Test, Bangladesh Tour of Sri Lanka 2025

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 16, 2025
0
Bangladesh Playing 11 vs Sri Lanka- 1st Test, Bangladesh Tour of Sri Lanka 2025

Sri Lanka will be up against Bangladesh in the first of the two-match Test series. This article provides details about Bangladesh Playing 11 vs Sri Lanka for the...

Read more

Today Match Prediction-SFU vs MINY-MLC T20 2025-6th Match-Who Will Win

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 15, 2025
0
Today Match Prediction-SFU vs MINY-MLC T20 2025-6th Match-Who Will Win

Today Prediction of San Francisco Unicorns vs MI New York 6th match MLC 2025. Today match prediction of Major League Cricket 2025. We are providing 100 % sure...

Read more

SF vs NY, MLC 2025: Match Prediction, Dream11 Team, Fantasy Tips & Pitch Report | San Francisco Unicorns vs MI New York

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 15, 2025
0
SF vs NY, MLC 2025: Match Prediction, Dream11 Team, Fantasy Tips & Pitch Report | San Francisco Unicorns vs MI New York

The stage is set for a high voltage clash as the San Francisco Unicorns take on MI New York in Match 6 of Major League Cricket 2025 at...

Read more
Next Post
Calafiori injury worry : Mikel ‘goleador’ Merino scores again

Calafiori injury worry : Mikel 'goleador' Merino scores again

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related News

Livewire Liverpool goal lets slip Reds had been very near signing him

Livewire Liverpool goal lets slip Reds had been very near signing him

September 12, 2024
Aim in Spain vs France was ‘pure elation’, says sensation

Aim in Spain vs France was ‘pure elation’, says sensation

July 10, 2024
Verstappen not involved by Crimson Bull shedding Newey and Wheatley · RaceFans

Verstappen not involved by Crimson Bull shedding Newey and Wheatley · RaceFans

August 22, 2024

Browse by Category

  • Athletics
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Boxing
  • Cricket
  • Football
  • Golf
  • MMA
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • Racing
  • Rugby
  • Soccer
  • Tennis
Today in Sports

Get the Latest Sports News and Updates on TodayInSports.net. Soccer News, Basketball News, Baseball News, Golf News, Boxing News and More!

CATEGORIES

  • Athletics
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Boxing
  • Cricket
  • Football
  • Golf
  • MMA
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • Racing
  • Rugby
  • Soccer
  • Tennis

Recent News

  • Lamine Yamal and Alejandro Balde fuel Barcelona’s push to sign €58 million Nico Williams
  • Jets getting unprecedented look at QBs with high-tech move
  • NFL Insider Explains How Cowboys HC Brian Schottenheimer Is Winning Through Micah Parsons’ Contract Challenge
  • Contact us
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • DMCA
  • Get the Latest Sports News and Updates on TodayInSports.net.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Copyright © 2024 Today in Sports.
Today in Sports is not responsible for the content of external sites.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket

Copyright © 2024 Today in Sports.
Today in Sports is not responsible for the content of external sites.