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

Khawaja hit again on Friday with a passionate defence of his harm and his actions, after lacking the sport in opposition to South Australia at Karen Rolton Oval final week and travelling to Melbourne to observe the Australian Method One Grand Prix.

„There’s lots of misinformation being thrown round,“ Khawaja stated. „Essentially the most disappointing factor was, I attempt to maintain this as in-house as attainable behind the scenes. It is clearly not anymore. Joe Dawes got here out the opposite day and stated a couple of inflammatory issues, which was actually disappointing to me as a participant, and after that, I simply felt like I needed to communicate up and say one thing, and provides my facet a narrative.

„Joey stated that the medical workers had no thought. That’s 100% flawed. I’ve talked to each our physios. I’ve talked to the Australian physio. I used to be speaking to the Australian physio the entire time. It is on our athlete administration system (AMS). My hammy is reported. All the things is there. Everybody knew about it. That was most likely one of the crucial stunning issues I heard. It was actually disappointing as a result of it is categorically unfaithful. So I simply needed to clear that up, that the physios 100% knew about my hammy harm.“

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

„To be sincere, the opposite bit about me not desirous to play for Queensland was most likely essentially the most disheartening factor. The quantity I’ve given to Queensland, identical to Joey would have given too, you give your coronary heart and soul. You may inform I get a bit emotional, you give a coronary heart and soul for this group.“

Usman Khawaja

Following a prolonged dialogue with Australia’s chairman of selectors George Bailey, Khawaja stated a plan was put in place for the top of the Protect season earlier than he would have all of April and Could off forward of the World Check Championship last.

„We got here up with a plan that I might play Tasmania and I might take the subsequent sport off,“ Khawaja stated. „And these are all fluid, however for the time being, I performed Tasmania, took the subsequent sport off with the sunshine of taking part in the Protect last. We’re making an attempt to keep away from me taking part in back-to-back video games. I am 38 years previous guys. I am unable to burn the candle at each ends.

„I do should take care of myself in some respect, and Queensland Cricket do know that. I texted [Queensland coach] Johan Botha and let him know. I did not actually get a reply.“

Khawaja additionally stated he had a health check with Queensland physio Stephen Timms on his hamstring earlier than the Tasmania sport and will solely run at 70%. He then stated each Bailey and Australian group physio Nick Jones reached out after the match relating to his hamstring.

„I stated, the hammy’s not nice,“ Khawaja stated. „It is feeling prefer it’s gonna pop. I feel we must always follow the identical plan that we had. And [Jones] was, like, 100% agree. It is an excessive amount of danger so that you can exit and play back-to-back video games.

„I am blissful to do what’s finest for Queensland cricket at all times,“ Usman Khawaja stated•Getty Photographs

„It is a no brainer. In order that was determined. Then George Bailey messaged me, and he stated, ‚How’s the whole lot going? What’s taking place with QC?‘ I stated I have never heard from anybody in QC from when that Tasmanian sport completed. I did not hear from Joe Dawes. I do not hear from Botha. I do not hear from any medical workers in Queensland Cricket. So I assumed the whole lot was nice.

„After which a couple of days later, I began listening to murmurs and stories about me opting out and all these things. And I used to be fuming. I used to be really actually devastated. I used to be actually upset. A board member began to assault me, which was actually disappointing for me.

„To be sincere, the opposite bit about me not desirous to play for Queensland was most likely essentially the most disheartening factor. The quantity I’ve given to Queensland, identical to Joey would have given too, you give your coronary heart and soul. You may inform I get a bit emotional, you give a coronary heart and soul for this group.“

It’s understood Khawaja didn’t have a scan on his hamstring after the Tasmania sport. He went on to say that he may see why his look on the Method One Grand Prix garnered some criticism however he stated he was nonetheless doing his rehab whereas he was away and had spoken to Australia’s coach Andrew McDonald about it.

„I talked to Andrew McDonald yesterday, and he is like, ‚Uzi, what you do together with your spare time I’ve no situation with in anyway‘,“ Khawaja stated. „I both go residence and curl up in a ball or I’m going watch F1 on the finish of the day. I am nonetheless doing my rehab. I nonetheless received three health club periods in whereas I used to be away in Melbourne. I nonetheless take care of my physique. It isn’t by any coincidence that I am 38 years previous and nonetheless taking part in cricket. Behind the scenes I do lots of work, and I am very skilled about what I do. So yeah, look, I perceive individuals take a look at it and so they haven’t got all of the info and the optics look dangerous. However I feel that is what was irritating me, and that is why I needed to talk out.“

Botha had missed a Protect sport earlier within the season to compete in an ultra-marathon.

Khawaja stated he was prepared to push his hamstring for the Protect last figuring out that he has a 10-week break earlier than the WTC last in June.

„I am not the man who maintain grudges,“ Khawaja stated. „I am blissful to do what’s finest for Queensland cricket at all times.

„Hammy is feeling fairly good. I’ve gone fairly onerous on a few of my loading on it over the past week and a half. I have never sprinted but, in order that’s the ultimate factor. So I will have slightly run immediately. I will have one other little run on Sunday. And clearly, if the whole lot’s going effectively, yeah, I needs to be nice. To be sincere, if it feels prefer it nonetheless did in Tassie, I am nonetheless prepared to push for the Protect last. Was simply onerous to push for the sport earlier than, figuring out that if I injured myself then I used to be gone for the Protect last.“