The 35-year-old may miss the birth of his second child in order to travel with the Australian team, who will embark historic tour to Pakistan after 24 years
08 February, 2022
PHOTO COURTESY: Usman Khawaja/Instagram
Pakistan-born Australian batter Usman Khawaja has decided to make a big personal sacrifice in order to play in Pakistan.
The 35-year-old may miss the birth of his second child in order to travel with the Australian team, who will embark historic tour to Pakistan after 24 years.
While talking to media at the Gabba in Brisbane, Khawaja said that he had a conversation with his wife about what happens if they had a baby mid-Test match.
Speaking ahead of the upcoming tour of Pakistan, Usman Khawaja says it will be "special" to play in the country he was born in. pic.twitter.com/FBnDmXsRTJ
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 8, 2022
"She’s very understanding, she knows I love playing cricket, it’s very important to me, she’s very supportive of that, and she knows I try to support her any way I can," Khawaja said in praise of his wife.
“It’s going to take me a lot to come back, it is Test cricket for Australia. I’m sort of not thinking about it because I don’t want it to happen, but ask me if it does happen,” he added.
Meanwhile, Khawaja is excited to tour Pakistan as it is the last place in the subcontinent where he has not played yet.
"I've still got a lot of family in Karachi. I was obviously born there, so it'll be nice, special moemnt to go over there and tick the last (part of the) subcontinent off. I think it will be great for Australian cricket too," he added.
Earlier today, Cricket Australia (CA) has named a full-strength squad for their first tour to Pakistan in 24 years, with Ashton Agar the only addition from the extended group of players that won the Ashes.
Cricket.com.au reported the fact that no Test players have pulled out is a vote of confidence for the tour arrangements in Pakistan.
Thorough security assessments were conducted by the security experts hired by the Australian board before the tour was given the go-ahead.
Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner
