Very easy for players, organisations to 'say no' to Pakistan: Usman Khawaja

Australian batter Usman Khawaja has said that it is “extremely disappointing” that New Zealand and England have called off Pakistan tours.

According to the West Australian, Khawaja said that nobody would say no to India if they were in the same situation while throwing his weight behind cricket in Pakistan.  

“I feel it’s very easy for players and organisations to say no to Pakistan, because it’s Pakistan,” said Khawaja. “I think the same thing would apply too, if it were Bangladesh. But nobody would say no to India, if they’re in the same situation.”

“Money talks, we all know that, and that’s probably a big part of it,” he added.

Khawaja also backed Australia’s tour of Pakistan next year, which is set to take place after the Ashes.

“They keep proving time and time again through their tournaments that they’re a safe place to play cricket. I think there’s no reason why we shouldn’t go back,” he said.  

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Khawaja, who was part of this year’s HBL Pakistan Super League while playing for Islamabad United, also praised the security arrangements in Pakistan.

“There’s a lot of security. Heavy, heavy security. I’ve heard nothing but reports about people feeling safe. Even talking to the guys during the PSL about what it’s like ... they would say the same thing to me ‘like 10 years ago, maybe not, but now 100 per cent’,” he concluded.