[VIDEO] Usman Khawaja "It's a great opportunity for Australian cricket to give a little back"

[MenInG]

[VIDEO] Usman Khawaja "It's a great opportunity for Australian cricket to give a little back"

Usman Khawaja on why Australia should tour Pakistan:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Usman Khawaja "I think it's a great opportunity for Australian cricket to give a little back. I said to the guys you can actually inspire a new generation of cricketers who have never seen you play by just going over there to play" <a href="https://t.co/qiSNYcgvPX">pic.twitter.com/qiSNYcgvPX</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PAKvAUS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PAKvAUS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/SajSadiqCricket/status/1480100673630920704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2022</a></blockquote>
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[Rana]

I hate this

Why don’t they ask Smith or Warner?! Why do they keep asking Khwaja or talking just about him??

 

[Saj]

It will be interesting to see just how much notice they take of the likes of Khawaja and Shane Watson.

I hope it isn't the case, but I think there are still a few twists and turns to come regarding this issue.

 

[The Googly]

Let’s be honest - the Aussies will 100% not tour. Let’s not raise hopes. The western mind set and the media war against Muslims along with India’s attempts to undermine Pakistan cricket and the general negative attitude towards touring Pakistan created by the SENA countries is the cause. I hope people don’t blame Pakistan or the PCB.

It’s not going to happen. Some ‘security issue’ or ‘covid related issue’ will be designed. Just resign yourself to it.

 

[Varun]

After all these statements, Australia are going to tour for sure.

Else the whole page 1 of PP will be full of bumpable threads.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

The groundswell certainly seems to be building for an Australian tour to Pakistan after 28 years.

Would take something extraordinary for Australia to not come. And I feel like even in case of something like that whole security farce when New Zealand toured, Australia will be somewhat fearful not to rock the boat because they likely wouldn't want to get chastised like England and (to a far lesser extent) New Zealand did.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Let’s be honest - the Aussies will 100% not tour. Let’s not raise hopes. The western mind set and the media war against Muslims along with India’s attempts to undermine Pakistan cricket and the general negative attitude towards touring Pakistan created by the SENA countries is the cause. I hope people don’t blame Pakistan or the PCB.

It’s not going to happen. Some ‘security issue’ or ‘covid related issue’ will be designed. Just resign yourself to it.

Well we can safely rule out COVID because Cricket Australia's CEO has said that the tour will go ahead even if there is a COVID scare.

 

[YousafTheBeast]

Can’t see Warner, Smith, Starc, Cummins and Hazelwood going to Pakistan.

They’ll probably say it’s due to bio-bubble fatigue.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Can’t see Warner, Smith, Starc, Cummins and Hazelwood going to Pakistan.

They’ll probably say it’s due to bio-bubble fatigue.

Starc is one of the braver guys. When everyone from the IPL bound bunch had to stay in Maldives, majority of their guys opted out of WI and Ban tour citing mental exhaustion and stuff but Starc was one of the few who decided not to back down.

 

[moghul]

There is no reason to doubt that tour will go ahead with full strength Australian team, with couple of players missing due to injury or personal reasons which happens all the time.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

Why is he framing it like it is a charitable act.

I don't like this grovelling. Just say its about time, Pakistan is a heavy weight in cricket and needs home tours to give world cricket more credibility.

How can you consider yourself the worlds best team when you can't prove you can beat a regular ICC SF team on their own turf? It makes a mockery of the league rankings.

 

[Nasty Naz]

Can’t see Warner, Smith, Starc, Cummins and Hazelwood going to Pakistan.

They’ll probably say it’s due to bio-bubble fatigue.

If they did come, it would only be for the Test series. Rest of the tour would likely be a B team.

 

[ElRaja]

Why is he framing it like it is a charitable act.

I don't like this grovelling. Just say its about time, Pakistan is a heavy weight in cricket and needs home tours to give world cricket more credibility.

How can you consider yourself the worlds best team when you can't prove you can beat a regular ICC SF team on their own turf? It makes a mockery of the league rankings.

was gonna say the same thing. whilst i appreciate khawajas intent, it should not be made to look like some benevolent act if pak has made the prerequisite arrangements to host aus.

 

[ahsan17]

***? He's making it appear like it would be a favour to Pakistan. It's Australia's responsibility as per the FTP, and as long as there no genuine security issues (i.e. not hoax issues like NZ fell for) they have to tour.

 

[Saj]

To be fair to Khawaja he is just doing his best for the country of his birth.

Some would have stayed quiet, but he has openly stated that Australia should tour Pakistan, and for that I think he deserves some credit.

 

[Cricfan4eva]

I don't like how Australia touring Pakistan is being seen as some noble gesture by them. Just because New Zealand pulled out, England pulled out, if Australia go ahead - does it make them a hero? Or just some normal country going about it's obligation?

 

[Saj]

I don't like how Australia touring Pakistan is being seen as some noble gesture by them. Just because New Zealand pulled out, England pulled out, if Australia go ahead - does it make them a hero? Or just some normal country going about it's obligation?

Fair point.

It's on the FTP and they should be in Pakistan.

 

[nam]

Great Knock Uzzie. But yea everyone knows Australia are not touring Pakistan anytime soon I'm afraid. They will probably blame managing workload after Ashes or security.

 

[Last Monetarist]

Cummins confirmed this morning that Khawaja will play as opener in Hobart, replacing Harris.

 

[MenInG]

Cummins confirmed this morning that Khawaja will play as opener in Hobart, replacing Harris.

Usman Khawaja's irresistible form has seen him hold his place for the Vodafone Ashes finale in Hobart but his promotion up the order has come at the expense of opener Marcus Harris.

Pat Cummins today confirmed Travis Head would reclaim the No.5 position he was forced to vacate for the Sydney Test after contracting COVID-19 and being forced into isolation in Melbourne following Australia's series victory.

Khawaja's twin hundreds in his remarkable return to Test cricket last week after a two-and-a-half-year absence has seen Harris squeezed out of the XI to face England at Blundstone Arena in the series' second-day-night contest.

Praised by Cummins for his Test-high 76 in the low-scoring third Test at the MCG, Harris has nonetheless been axed after making 179 runs at 29.83 for the series and now with no centuries to show from 14 Tests.

While Australia are yet to decide on the make-up of their bowling unit for Hobart, Scott Boland is firming to hold his place in the side after a successful fitness test on Thursday.

Boland suffered a rib injury in Sydney but bowled without pain in the Blundstone Arena nets on match eve under the watchful eyes of assistant coach Andrew McDonald and physiotherapist David Beakley on Thursday afternoon.

"Scotty's ribs are the only factor," Cummins told reporters. "He'll give that a go, if he's not in then Jhye and Michael Neser are both fit. We'll work that out this arvo.

"Jhye coming off a five-for in the pink ball (means) he's probably the next one (in) but we'll have that conversation when we need to.

"It's a pretty tight turnaround between Tests. We think he (Boland) should be right but he'll just have another bowl in the nets."

Jhye Richardson is pushing for a return to the side following his impressive pink-ball effort in Adelaide where he took a final-day five-wicket haul, while Michael Neser (who made his debut in Adelaide) is also in the mix.

Australia will make a final call on Friday morning.

Cummins emphasised that Australia's decision to change their opening combination had more to do with Khawaja's stunning Test return than Harris' form.

The Test skipper insisted the left-hander remained in Australia's selection plans for the upcoming Pakistan tour.

And Cummins acknowledged the decision to open Khawaja with a fellow 35-year-old David Warner posed obvious problems for succession planning.

"I think he knew it was coming," Cummins said of Harris. "The message to 'Harry' is that we think he's going really well, it's tough on him.

"It's not too often that someone comes in and gets two hundreds in the same game. I thought Marcus has been really good, he's been growing with each game. He was a huge part of why we won that MCG Test.

"He's certainly part of the future, we'll keep investing him.

"Uzzie and Davey have earnt their spots to open the batting but the reality is they're both 35 years old.

"While that doesn't mean anything in the short term, there will be a day when we need to some more openers.

"This is more of a case of someone demanding a spot rather than Marcus losing his spot due to form."

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/aus...starc-richardson-neser-pat-cummins/2022-01-13

 

[MenInG]

Usman Khawaja can’t stop smiling.

“I haven’t had a feeling like that in cricket in my whole entire life,” Khawaja tells the Herald and The Age as the emotions of his unexpected Test recall and twin centuries in the Sydney Test continue to well up inside him.

Sunday night’s Big Bash knockout final is part of the icing on a very large cake as the Sydney Thunder captain prepares to lead his team against the Adelaide Scorchers in Melbourne.

His pride as the Thunder’s one remaining foundation player, which keeps him connected with his formative years in Sydney’s western suburbs, is matched by the exhilaration of being back in the Australian team.

“It was just unexpected,” Khawaja says with a faraway tone as if he continues to take in the enormity of an SCG homecoming that has left him jostling with Scott Boland as the Ashes’ Cinderella story.

“I guess through everything that happened with COVID, Heady [Travis Head] going down, me getting an opportunity ... I had kind of clocked off a little bit because I’m thinking, ‘I’m not going to get an opportunity here. You don’t really change the winning team and the guys are going great, which is awesome to see’.

“And I was fine with that. I was having a lot of fun just being around the guys and Rach [wife Rachel] and [daughter] Aisha were with me, they were enjoying it, too.

“That Test match was kind of just like a bonus at that time the way things worked out.

“I don’t know if it’s a fairytale, but it’s as close as it gets, having family around there and everything.

“It’s just one of those things I’ll never forget. And I probably haven’t had a feeling like that in cricket in my whole entire life.

“To have things work out like that, on that specific occasion, and how everything led up to that, it’s quite bizarre. I couldn’t have written it to be honest; I couldn’t have written that script myself.”

It is unlikely there has been an elite NSW sportsman who defected to Queensland – where he is now state captain – who has received the kind of prodigal son welcome home Khawaja experienced during the Sydney Test.

“The crowd chanting my name as I’m coming off the field both times [after centuries] was something I’d never thought I’d ever experience,” he says. “It was unbelievable. And it was loud, especially after that first one – there was a pretty big crowd. It was actually a really surreal and cool moment.”

“The crowd chanting my name as I’m coming off the field both times was something I’d never thought I’d ever experience,” says Usman Khawaja.

A naturally funny guy who is often the joker in the change room, Khawaja formed his own special club with Boland, an injury replacement’s injury replacement who had the most remarkable finish to the series.

“I was calling Scotty a cult hero and I was the people’s champ,” Khawaja says with a laugh. “I told him we make a formidable team. I said, ‘We weren’t supposed to be here, Scotty, but here we are.’”

So how does someone of Pakistani heritage feel about being an Aussie icon?

“First and foremost, I’m very Australian,” says Khawaja, 35, who made his Test debut at the SCG 11 years ago.

“I obviously do some things slightly different – I don’t drink, I pray behind closed doors, very private – but, other than that, I’m out and about and playing golf and mucking around with the guys having coffees and playing sports and being out; I’m on my ride-on mower and doing all the things that anyone would ever do.

“If you didn’t see the colour of my skin, you wouldn’t really know that I was not born here or my heritage is not from Australia.

“Even the way I talk. If you heard me on the phone, I don’t think you’d ever realise that I was born in Pakistan or I had coloured skin. You’d just think, ‘He’s just another Aussie bloke’.

“I love Australia and the opportunities we get and how lucky we are here.

“I’m so grateful my parents came here. I just can’t see myself living anywhere else. You don’t know how lucky we are until you actually go outside and experience the world. People always underestimate how lucky we are living in Australia.”

Khawaja came back to earth a little during the day-night Test in Hobart. Promoted to open the batting when Head returned and Marcus Harris was dropped, Khawaja was one of many batsmen from both sides who succumbed to the green Bellerive Oval pitch and vagaries of the pink ball.

However, such was his performance in Sydney he looks certain to retain his place in the team for Australia’s next tour, to Pakistan, the first in 24 years. This excites Khawaja.

“My dad, he loves cricket,” he says. “He always supported cricket. He grew up watching cricket in Pakistan. So, it’s very close to his heart.

“Growing up, all my favourite players were either Australian or Brian Lara, and there were a couple of Pakistanis mixed in there, too. So, obviously, I have a close affiliation.

“It will be a special moment just to go back to my country of birth. I have a lot of support there, just like the rest of the subcontinent.

“I’m pretty sure they’re going to be wanting Australia to get smashed but, at the same time, I’ve always felt like they’ve always wanted me to score runs, too.”

But first he has an assignment with the Thunder.

“I am from western Sydney,” he says. “I grew up most of my life living in western Sydney, further out at the start and then we moved to Parramatta. I think the connection is what excites people.

“Western Sydney is quite a specific area, not a whole city, and we represent the west.

“It just fuses together, me being with the Thunder from the very start.”

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricke...-having-time-of-his-life-20220122-p59qd3.html

 

[KingOfPakBreakfast]

Love Uzzie. What a great and positive role model this fella is. InshAllah I hope that the Aussies tour full strength, I hope he scores runs , but I also hope that they get smashed as well!!

 

[PakLFC]

Usman is a good ad who respects his roots. The real thing is touring Pak is not financially beneficial for Aus. Could even be that those who decide to tour could be threatened with being banned from the IPL. If the Aussies do visit Pak it will mostly likely be with a second eleven from which Usman is one off.

 

[Last Monetarist]

Usman is a good ad who respects his roots. The real thing is touring Pak is not financially beneficial for Aus. Could even be that those who decide to tour could be threatened with being banned from the IPL. If the Aussies do visit Pak it will mostly likely be with a second eleven from which Usman is one off.

Away teams don't make any money from bilateral tours, which is why bilateral international cricket is in such strife around the world. The only incentive for away tours is reciprocal touring arrangements, which is why everyone keeps tripping over their feet to play India. A Pakistan tour to Australia is a massive loss-maker for CA and their broadcasters, so you're correct in a way.

 

[PakLFC]

Away teams don't make any money from bilateral tours, which is why bilateral international cricket is in such strife around the world. The only incentive for away tours is reciprocal touring arrangements, which is why everyone keeps tripping over their feet to play India. A Pakistan tour to Australia is a massive loss-maker for CA and their broadcasters, so you're correct in a way.

In that case the Aussies will most likely not come. They wouldn't care if Pak reciprocate in kind too.

 

[Firebat]

Stars align for Khawaja to ‘give back’ on historic Pakistan tour

For believers in fate, the narrative arc of Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja’s story is about to reach its peak. Out of Australia’s men’s Test team for more than two years, the 35-year-old Pakistan-born batter forced his way back into the starting XI with twin centuries in this year’s Sydney Ashes Test. It was a match he was only playing in because Travis Head, ahead of him for the No 5 batting spot, had tested positive for Covid.

Now, Khawaja is on his way back to the country of his birth as part of the first Australia tour to Pakistan in 24 years. “I’m not that much of a narcissist that I believe that there’s an agenda with fate,” says Khawaja, shortly before Australia’s departure. “There’s nothing saying that all this happened just so that I could go back to Pakistan. But I am a God-believing man and I do believe that fate comes from God.

According to sources inside Cricket Australia, Khawaja has been an important sounding board for those in the team with questions about Pakistan, a country many of his teammates are visiting for the first time. “Maybe this was meant to be, and I was meant to be on this tour – that is, if I don’t get Covid, I don’t want to count my chickens too early!” laughs Khawaja. “But as long as everything goes fine, fate or no fate, it’s worked out really well. From where I was a year ago, outside of the team, nowhere to be seen, to be here now, it’s almost worked out perfectly.”

Having first forced his way into the Test team on the back of a stellar domestic season in 2011 to become the first Muslim man to win an Australian Test cap, it was Khawaja’s domestic form, captaining Queensland to last year’s Sheffield Shield title, which has once again forced him back into contention. Now a father, a husband, a state captain and a more settled mind than the young, at times brash, cricketer who first wore the baggy green, Khawaja is confident of the reception he and Australia’s cricketers will receive on arrival in Pakistan.

“We’ve always had great support from Pakistan,” says Khawaja, who was born in Islamabad, where the first Test takes place on March 4, but emigrated to Australia with his family at the age of just five. Of his wider family who still live in Pakistan, most live in Karachi, the venue for the second Test on March 12. “I’m not sure how many of them will be turning up, to be honest. I’m sure we’ll get some ticket requests closer to the date. But from all over the subcontinent I’ve always had great support. Even from the subcontinental Australians living over here [in Australia]. I don’t think it will be too different, I think they’ll still support me, but they’ll also be hoping that we get absolutely smashed.

After speculation Australian players might opt out of the tour over security concerns, following the cancellation of England and New Zealand’s tours to the country last year, head men’s selector George Bailey confirmed instead last month that no player had made themselves unavailable for the three-test/ three-ODI/ one T20 series.

“I wasn’t really involved in anything behind the scenes,” says Khawaja, who was elected onto the Australian Cricketers’ Association board last year. “But Cricket Australia and the ACA, they did all the hard work. I was obviously quite vocal. Not so much directly to individuals, more so just about where we were in Australian cricket, what we could do about giving back. In terms of security, I was always along the lines of, well, if Cricket Australia is saying that it’s safe for us to go and everything’s alright, then it probably is.

“I think it helped that representatives from the ACA and Cricket Australia actually went on the ground, they did their due diligence,” continues Khawaja. “They didn’t do it from afar. And when they came back they said that it was really good, it was unbelievable over there, it far exceeded what they had thought. That was a big stepping stone in the whole thing.”

As well as his own role, Khawaja also revealed the major part past Australian cricketers have played in ensuring a full-strength Australian side goes to Pakistan. “Shane Watson has been massive,” says Khawaja. “As ACA President, he’s been very vocal in terms of all of his experience in Pakistan [playing in the Pakistan Super League] and how good it’s been. Actually, it’s been the same talking to a lot of the older players too, who have been in Pakistan, including a few guys who played in the [Australia] A series over there.

“Talking to Darren Lehmann and other guys who have been to Pakistan before, they have had nothing but great experiences. To hear that, at the end of the day, it gives you a bit of confidence.”

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...hawaja-to-give-back-on-historic-pakistan-tour

 

[MenInG]

Even without the powerful pull of his ancestral and emotional ties to the nation of his birth, Usman Khawaja believes his latest sub continental sojourn will stand as a defining difference from his earlier Test tours to the region.

Throughout an eleven-year international career that has taken him in and out of Australian teams as well as sidelined for lengthy stints through injury, few experiences have proved more harrowing than his past two Test campaigns in Asia.

The first of those was Australia's forgettable 0-3 series loss in Sri Lanka in 2016, when Khawaja – who had crowned his return to the Test line-up with centuries in four consecutive matches across the preceding home summer – found himself flummoxed by spin bowling on dry, dusty pitches.

So low did the left-hander's confidence sink, he suffered the ignominy of being clean bowled in near identical circumstances twice on the same day by Sri Lanka off-spinner Dilruwan Perera, which led to him losing his place in the Australia team for the final Test of the campaign.

A year later, having won back his spot and installed as Australia's number three for the two-Test tour to Bangladesh, Khawaja recorded scores of one (run out) and one (top-edged sweep) in the opening match was replaced by all-rounder Hilton Cartwright for the second.

But while those experiences proved bitter for the left-hander whose deft touch and capacity to play the ball late seemingly saw him suited to spin-friendly conditions, Khawaja used them to make adjustments to his game that have since seen him flourish in Asia, in both red and white-ball formats.

"I think you just learn, day in and day out what works and what doesn't," Khawaja said today from the Australia team's hotel in Islamabad where they arrived yesterday, with their first training session of the three-Test Qantas Tour of Pakistan scheduled for tomorrow.

"It's both a mindset and technical analysis thing, and if you don't then you're going to make the same mistakes over and over again.

"I took onus on myself that I wasn't going to listen to anyone else about how I needed to bat on the subcontinent.

"I had tried that and failed, so I made sure I did learn from it.

"There was a lot of work that went into it.

"I'm not going to lie, it's quite tough work."

Khawaja's road to redemption began in India during 2018, when he was part of an Australia A touring party skippered by current Test squad mate Mitchell Marsh and which included incumbent Test players Travis Head and Alex Carey.

He finished the quadrangular limited-overs series (against two Indian teams and South Africa A) leg of the tour as Australia's leading runs scorer, and posted the highest individual score of the two unofficial 'Tests' against India A with 127 as an opener at Bengaluru.

Those efforts saw him reinstated in a reshaped Australia Test team for the first series after the sandpaper scandal, and his second innings of 141 against Pakistan in the similar-to-subcontinent conditions of the UAE enabled Australia to secure a draw in a match they seemed destined to lose.

It also helped Khawaja reclaim a berth in Australia's ODI outfit as they fine-tuned for the 2019 ICC World Cup in England, and in 10 preparatory matches in India and the UAE he rattled on 655 runs at an average of 65 with two hundreds and five half-centuries.

Far from being a liability on sub continental pitches (and their near equivalents), Khawaja had become a gilt-edged asset and will enter the upcoming Test series – starting in nearby Rawalpindi on Friday – brimming with confidence as Australia's incumbent opener.

"I've been to India A series in India, scored hundreds in India there and in white-ball series," Khawaja said of the successes that have consigned those earlier Test trials to distant memory.

"And then obviously playing in Dubai (in his comeback Test against Pakistan) it wasn't just a one-off there, I've done it time and time again in different teams.

"That was five or six years ago those (Sri Lanka and Bangladesh) series, and they were great learning experiences.

"If I didn't have those experiences, I probably wouldn't be able to develop my game.

"Now I've given myself the best chance to score in these conditions, and to know what I need to do.

"If it doesn't work out from there, I can live with that.

"But beforehand, in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, I probably didn't really understand where I needed to be in those conditions."

The other factor Khawaja hopes will yield him vastly different results from his previous Test sojourns to sub continental Asia is the compacted nature of Australia's schedule in Pakistan.

Having flown into Islamabad late on Sunday amid heavy security for Australia's first men's team visit to the Islamic republic since 1998, Pat Cummins' team have just three training days prior to play starting in the first Test.

The visitors restricted themselves to an exercise session in their hotel's gym today as a number of the 18-player squad and accompanying support staff battled jet lag, although Khawaja claimed the title of "best sleeper in the team" by kipping uninterrupted until 8am this morning.

But after previous unsuccessful subcontinent Test tours included a lengthy acclimatisation schedule, often with warm-up matches or expanded intra-squad trial games, the 35-year-old is keen to glean whether a truncated lead-in delivers better on-field results.

"It's not the worst thing," Khawaja said of a schedule that sees all three Tests completed in as many weeks.

"We've been on lots of subcontinent tours where we've had two weeks preparation, and still haven't been that great.

"So this might be the way to go.

"There's only so much you can say before a Test match anyway, so I'm actually looking forward to a short build-up this time to see how it goes.

"It could be a blessing disguise, or it might not be ... we're about to find out."

Khawaja said the much-discussed security detail that will accompany the Australia team throughout the tour was significant but added it was not overtly obvious with the armed guards "doing a pretty good job of being around but not being seen".

However, the strict security and bio-security bubble in which both teams remain will likely prevent him meeting up with members of his extended family in Karachi (site of the second Test) and friends in Islamabad where he was born and his family lived prior to emigrating to Australia in 1990.

The nature of pitches Australia are expecting for their first Pakistan Test campaign in 24 years also remain unseen and unknown, at least until the squad makes their first visit to Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium tomorrow for training.

What Khawaja seems more certain of is the support of Pakistan fans who he believes will not only rejoice in the return of an Australia touring team after such a long absence but wish him personal success albeit with a very clear caveat.

"I think they'll hope I get runs, but they'll hope Australia gets smashed at the same time," Khawaja said with a broad smile.

"Being born here, it's going to be pretty cool walking out there and playing the game but I don't expect a hostile crowd.

"I've got a lot of support here in Pakistan, always.

"The fact that I'm playing in Pakistan is very special and it's something I've always wanted to do.

"I grew up down the road (in Islamabad), so there's a bit of sentiment definitely ... but once the game starts you don't really think about that stuff."

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/usm...nent-lessons-first-test-rawalpindi/2022-02-28

 

[PakLFC]

Good to see Usman respect his roots. Once the match starts I want him clean bowled for zero

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

Kinda tired of sport 'giving back' to Pakistan.

Pakistan has proven itself to be safe beyond all doubts. But even when other countries were visiting Pakistan before all that went wrong with the country, you weren't visiting.

It is a top cricket nation. You are testing yourself against one of the best in their conditions, you are bound by bilateral as well as ICC code and you have had Pakistan visit you in tough times.

So all said and done, it is not giving back. It is just cricket.

 

[Firebat]

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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-spacewrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Caow6Heg-qP/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-stylermal; font-weightrmal; line-height:17px; text-decorationne;" target="_blank">A post shared by Usman Khawaja (@usman_khawajy)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

 

[Rana]

Does anyone know if Australia has any touring fans? Have the PCB or Pak government made any arrangements for Australian citizens who may want to watch these matches live?

 

[Firebat]

 

[shamaan]

Does anyone know if Australia has any touring fans? Have the PCB or Pak government made any arrangements for Australian citizens who may want to watch these matches live?

I did see a few Australian supporters.

 

[MenInG]

62* and enjoying himself Usman!

 

[transparent opacity]

Usman Khawaja's wicket

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/vrg0hg" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>

 

[MenInG]

Usman's innings

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/aeswmr" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">In life you have to take the good with the bad, equally. I accept it. And am always grateful. &#55357;&#56911;&#55356;&#57342; #97 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/alwaysalhamdulillah?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#alwaysalhamdulillah</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/australia?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#australia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/testcricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#testcricket</a> &#55356;&#57295; @ Islamabad اسلام آباد <a href="https://t.co/uOvOsdu9pH">https://t.co/uOvOsdu9pH</a></p>— Usman Khawaja (@Uz_Khawaja) <a href="https://twitter.com/Uz_Khawaja/status/1500461413202026500?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

Usman Khawaja "When we were batting Davey said how welcoming the crowd was. They were shouting Davey give us a wave and Warner we love you. The reception here has been great and you can tell that Pakistani people love their cricket"

Usman Khawaja "Spectators have been great, they're really welcoming. We'd be on the boundary & they'd be chanting our names. Davey's been going out there & they've been shouting Warner & shouting my name. On Day 1 & 2 I was joking around, waving & playing with the crowd"

Usman Khawaja "The people here have been very hospitable and it has just been a great vibe. We've really enjoyed being out here"

 

[Maher96]

Feel as if Usman homecoming is kind of over celebrated. It’s nice to have them over, but let’s start playing cricket too.

Need the remaining to be competitive now.

 

[transparent opacity]

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Looks like he is taking plenty of runs out.

 

[MenInG]

 

[MenInG]

Khawaja’s Pakistan hundred one to savour

Karachi: Usman Khawaja has atoned for his near-miss 97 in Rawalpindi in spectacular fashion by becoming the first Australian batter to score a Test century in Pakistan in 24 years.

As far as storylines go, Khawaja finishing day one unbeaten on 127 in the country of his birth against the team his father avidly supported when the left-hander was growing up playing street cricket in Islamabad is going to be hard to top on this historic tour.

Australia started brilliantly on day one in the second Test against Pakistan before finishing on 3-251 at the close of play.

“This one, after last week getting 97, it’s got to be up there,” Khawaja said. “This one meant a lot too.”

Steve Smith played an important supporting role with a cautious 72 from 214 balls before losing his wicket in the penultimate over of the day, caught at slip one-handed by Faheem Ashraf, leaving nightwatchman Nathan Lyon to survive six balls before stumps.

Pakistan’s bowlers managed just two wickets across 90 overs on another pitch created in batter heaven.

Out reverse sweeping in the first Test just three runs shy of a hundred, Khawaja ensured he wouldn’t miss out again by compiling a chanceless century, sealed with a quick single into the leg side.

After eight hundreds in Australia, plus centuries in New Zealand and the UAE, Khawaja’s first ton in Pakistan may have more significance than the rest combined.

From being out of the Test team, to replacing Travis Head because of COVID-19, to scoring twin tons in Sydney, to reasserting himself as the team’s veteran opener, Khawaja’s past few months have been nothing short of extraordinary.

“It does feel like now things are going pretty nicely, but I know the game can change pretty quickly,” Khawaja said. “I’m at a point in my life where it’s about enjoyment more than anything else. Nothing lasts forever – I understand that.”

Khawaja raised his bat to a vociferous Karachi crowd that featured four of his relatives.

The love shown for Khawaja in Pakistan is palpable, with signs everywhere in the crowd on a memorable day for all those who witnessed a master in the subcontinent execute to near perfection.

Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Michael Clarke are among a long list of established players who never scored a century in Pakistan.

It was certainly a slow grind to triple figures – Khawaja took 71 balls to move from 80 to 100 –but the moment itself was one all Australian cricket fans dearly wished would happen on a tour like this.

Khawaja was 11 years old when Mark Waugh made 117 against Pakistan in Karachi in October 1998 and it was fitting that 8539 days later the crafty left-hander broke Australia’s century drought in a country that Khawaja has wanted to tour his entire career.

More than 60 per cent of Khawaja’s first 100 runs were struck from mid-wicket to fine leg and he now has 479 runs from six innings, at an average of 119.75, since being recalled to the Test team in January.

Everything Khawaja touches at the moment turns to gold, while Smith posted his second 50 of the series to put Australia in a dominant position at a ground they have never won at.

Across both Tests this series, 17 wickets have fallen for 1438 runs.

Earlier, Khawaja and David Warner fell 18 runs short of notching back-to-back triple-figure Australian opening partnerships for the first time in almost seven years as Marnus Labuschagne ran himself out for a duck on a dramatic first morning.

Pakistan’s first reward was the wicket of Warner, who after smashing spinner Sajid Khan for six the previous over was caught behind for 36 after a lovely delivery from Faheem Ashraf that angled in before finding the edge.

Their 82-run opening partnership swung early momentum Australia’s way.

Not since Warner and Joe Burns in 2015 against New Zealand at the Gabba has an Australian opening pair made back-to-back century partnerships.

Australian selectors will be extremely comforted that two 35-year-olds are doing a fine job at the top of the order, even if there is no clear answer on what the future holds with two great servants of Australian cricket in the twilight of their careers.

For now, Australia have found a duo that provides stability and consistency.

Warner and Khawaja batted with positive intent in Rawalpindi, piling on 156 runs for the first wicket, and replicated that in Karachi.

Labuschagne hit more balls than any of his teammates in the lead-up to this Test but was back in the pavilion with not a run to his name.

Labuschagne tried to sneak a single to Sajid Khan at mid-off and realised halfway down the pitch he was in trouble. The direct hit left Australia’s No.3 out of his ground by the smallest of margins and with just his second duck in Tests.

It was a memorable day for Khawaja, who also had the honour of presenting Mitch Swepson a baggy green that has been years in the making.

Khawaja’s speech, with teammates huddled around, was one of the longer ones in recent memory.

After almost five minutes of waxing lyrical, Khawaja handed Swepson, his Queensland teammate, the cap he has dreamed of owning since he first featured in an Australian squad five years ago.

Swepson’s day got even better when he learned captain Pat Cummins had won the toss and chosen to bat on a hard pitch that is expected to break up earlier than the surface in Rawalpindi.

Given Australia has not won a Test in Karachi from eight attempts – there have been five draws and three losses – there was a look of relief on Cummins’ face when the coin fell his way.

By day’s end, Cummins would be happy with how his team is placed, despite Smith’s late dismissal when a drought-breaking century looked on the cards for day two.

From 43 Tests in Karachi, the team batting first has only won seven times. Whoever has bowled first has come away victorious on 18 occasions.

Australia has certainly put down foundations to buck that trend.

“If we bat well enough tomorrow morning we’ll have an opportunity to drive the game,” Khawaja said.

“I felt like Pakistan were in a perfect position last game to do the same [in the first Test] but they just didn’t do it.

“They didn’t really take any opportunity to increase the run rate. If we bat well enough and earn the right in that second session, I think if we can get anywhere near 400 or 500 … we’d want to double our score.”

News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/khawaja-s-pakistan-hundred-one-to-savour-20220312-p5a42y.html

 

[James]

Khawaja was born in Islamabad before emigrating to Australia as a child and had relatives in the Karachi crowd to witness his first Test ton in Pakistan.

"My family is actually from Karachi," the 35-year-old said.

"This is where the Khawajas are from. Everyone in my family was born in Karachi except me.

"This is my home. I've been here a lot. It's nice to get a hundred."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/60721664

 

[sweep_shot]

Khawaja's highest score is 174. Good opportunity for him to surpass that.

 

[MenInG]

Near miss again for Usman Khawaja! out for 91 to Sajid Khan

 

[shamaan]

I said before the test series khawaja will be the danger man for Pakistan.

 

[MenInG]

Another 100!

Usman Khawaja - totally unstoppable on this tour.

 

[Savak]

This guy has tortured us. He has not had any failure on this tour. The Pakistani bowlers and team management have had zero plans to counter him.

 

[Sidilicious]

Uzzie bhai needs to be one of the first name on the team sheet on two occassions
1 All home games
2. When playing Pakistan

 

[shamaan]

I thought that Khawaja will be a danger man before the tour started.

 

[MenInG]

Usman Khawaja's stunning start to 2022 continues to amaze and the experienced Australia batter has no plans on easing up any time soon.

Khawaja registered his fourth century of the year when he scored an unbeaten 104 for Australia during the second innings of the third Test against Pakistan in Lahore on Thursday and the in-form 35-year-old has now amassed 751 runs in 2022 thus far.

That's more than 350 runs greater than any other Test player has managed this year and his current Test batting average has shot up over the last few months to 47.24.

He is also the first Australia batter to register four centuries in a calendar year since David Warner and Steve Smith did so in 2017 and still has nine more months to try and better the star duo.

Khawaja's rapid rise sees him boast the 18th best Test average by any male Australia batter and has him ahead of former greats Bill Lawry, Ian Chappell, Mark Taylor, Bob Simpson and even ex-coach Justin Langer.

He also has a Test average that is higher than fellow opener Warner (47.20), which is no mean feat given Warner has 24 Test centuries for his country.

It's a dramatic recent run of form for the left-hander, who was on the outer in terms of national selection during 2020 and 2021 as fellow lefty Marcus Harris was preferred, and given a bevy of chances to show his wares at the top of the Australia batting order.

But Khawaja has shone where his predecessor failed and has now scored more half-centuries during the current Pakistan tour (four) than what Harris managed through 14 Test appearances.

That alone has fully justified Khawaja’s return to the national setup and the Pakistan-born Australian is now determined to make the most of his opportunity.

"I know the game can change very quickly so I am just enjoying it — a lot of people say that but I am at a point in my life and my career where it's more about enjoyment than anything else," he said recently.

"Nothing lasts forever, I understand that."

The fact that Khawaja has performed so well in the country of his birth still resonates well with the likeable Queenslander, who continually praises his family for their role in his recent reinvigoration.

"They have been so supportive, I couldn't have asked for any more," Khawaja added.

"I love it because they want Pakistan to win, you can tell they're die-hard Pakistani supporters, but they're very supportive of me."

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2549410

 

[transparent opacity]

 

[shamaan]

Before this series started I thought Khawaja will be the key.what a stunning series by Khawaja.

 

[MenInG]

Someone taking inspiration from Usman

==

Australian deaf cricketer Shahrukh Syed will watch the Benaud-Qadir final tonight with rare happiness, no matter who wins.

"I'm just super excited as Pakistan is my country of birth and Australia is the country that has given me recognition," Syed said.

"To see both involved in a game of cricket which I love more than anything is something super special and that I will treasure for a long time.

"Australia touring Pakistan is very exciting for me as a cricket fan and, moreover, I wanted it to happen so the cricketers could themselves experience Pakistan as a country."

Like Usman Khawaja, Syed was born in Pakistan but chose to make his life Down Under.

Changing the face of Australian cricket
Usman Khawaja talks about racism in cricket and urges Cricket Australia to diversify for the sake of the game.

Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja poses during the 2019 Australia Ashes Squad Portrait Session
Read more
The similarities do not end there: Both men are husbands, fathers of young children and stylish opening left-hand batters.

"Usman Khawaja is a great ambassador of multiculturalism in Cricket Australia," Syed said.

"My admiration for him derives from the fact that we've both got the same style of play, as he's also a left-handed opening batter. Watching him go about his business helps me a lot to improve my game as well."

Syed's representative career has been stalled by COVID-19 for two years.

But it will start up again in June when the International Cricket Inclusion Series is held in Brisbane:

Syed had to learn English and Auslan after moving to Australia in 2014.

"It's been quite hard to learn new languages since moving here in my 20s," he said. "It's very important for deaf and hard-of-hearing people to be together."

He can't wait to take on the Poms.

"Playing against England would first up provide me with an opportunity of representing Australia," Syed said.

He said this, in itself, would be the "greatest honour" and something that he and his family could be immensely proud of.

"Secondly, the rivalry between the two nations involved is perhaps the greatest and definitely the most historic in cricket. So, yes, [I am] looking forward to a good contest," he said.

"Playing for, and representing the hard-of-hearing community, is a matter of great pride, as this provides us with a platform to showcase our skills to the world."

Syed works nine to five as a data-entry administrator for a private company in Western Australia.

After work, he gets into the nets and works on his fitness.

"With my gym routine, I'm currently focusing on strengthening my core, and also working on my strength, especially for my shoulders," he said.

"I need to get back to my full strength before the England matches. And, in terms of my game, I am regularly involved in competitive matches and net sessions arranged by the WACA."

Selection of the final squads will be announced in May, with training camps to be held prior to the series.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03...s-prepares-for-comeback-in-brisbane/100939750

 

[Major]

Usman Khawaja's effort for bringing cricket back to Pakistan

Australia touring Pakistan was important because Pakistan wants to play home games in Pakistan and be able to show the world its safe and can host an ICC even. Pakistan has won the rights to host the champions trophy , but to make sure teams dont pull out they have to keep on bringing developed cricket nations to Pakistan.

Usman khawaja had played for Islamabad United in psl6 and travelled with the team in Pakistan. When the tour came up, CA and thebplayers consulted Khawaja first who played a role in convinving the players to come.

Khawaja even mentioned yesterday that now the opinion has changed to the point that Australian players are willing to come again in future.

Should had been awarded a civil award by the Pakistani govt on 23rd March, for his remarkable efforts

 

[ElRaja]

he has deffo played a big role, but then he showed no remorse and plundered 500 runs in three tests, its actually quite funny. but agree that he should get some recognition.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

Pakistan should lure some top Aussie prospects to live in Pakistan and give them nationality. Its about time we had our first white player.

 

[Saj]

Behind the smiles and the appreciation of the crowd, there was a steely determination in the Aussie squad.

They were there to win a cricket series first and foremost, whereas our team seemed to be there just to keep the tourists happy.

 

[MenInG]

Selection chief George Bailey has again backed Aaron Finch to lead Australia at the upcoming T20 and ODI World Cups, saying the opener's return to form this week didn't come as a surprise.

But the prospect of a white-ball recall for the in-form Usman Khawaja appears remote, at least in the short term, with the reborn Test star saying he hasn’t spoken to selectors about one-day cricket since his surprise axing in 2019.

Finch's match-winning innings of 55 in a T20 against Pakistan on Wednesday, his first half-century in 17 innings for Australia, eased some of the pressure on the 35-year-old ahead of his side's T20 World Cup title defence later this year.

Bailey and Finch are also planning for the Victorian to captain the side at next year's 50-over World Cup in India, which the opener has indicated may signal the end of his international career.

Finch went through similar form droughts leading into the 2019 and 2021 World Cups but was backed by selectors and returned to his best in time for those events.

Despite what the skipper this week labelled external "panic" about his run of low scores, Bailey said he was always confident Finch could rediscover top form.

"Not relieved – always know it's coming with Finchy," Bailey said today.

"He's said it himself that he'd have liked to have contributed more … he'd like to be scoring more runs.

"We have so much cricket from now until that T20 World Cup and the build-up to the one-day World Cup that he's got a great opportunity, and probably now a little bit of time to focus … on a couple of little technical things that he wants to work on, which is great.

"The leadership he provides, the way that T20 team and the one-day team has been building, we're starting to get some good buy-in to the way we want to play, on the back of the way the squad played in that T20 World Cup.

"I'm confident Finchy will come good and be firing in the lead up to and including the World Cup."

Finch is one of 16 Australians currently at the Indian Premier League, which finishes a little more than a week before a multi-format tour of Sri Lanka begins on June 7.

Australia were without several big-name players for the recent white-ball games in Pakistan, with the likes of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and David Warner given time away from the game before heading to the IPL.

Bailey indicated his three-format players may again need to be given a break for parts of the Sri Lankan campaign, especially if their IPL teams go deep into the tournament, saying the two Tests in Galle between June 29 and July 12 will be prioritised over the eight white-ball matches that come before it.

Bailey lauded the performances in Pakistan of players like Travis Head, Ben McDermott, Sean Abbott and Nathan Ellis, who were unlikely to have been picked had Australia had all its players to choose from.

While hopeful of picking full-strength teams in all formats as Australia look to fine-tune their game ahead of the two upcoming World Cups, Bailey added the Pakistan experience was invaluable.

"There's only about 20 games before the start of the one-day World Cup, which isn't a great deal … when you're trying to build a team and a framework of how you're going to play together," he said.

"I don't like the word bench strength – it's just depth. And it's what's required given how much cricket is played internationally. If you don't have it, you're going to get caught short."

Khawaja hasn't played one-day cricket for Australia since the 2019 World Cup despite averaging almost 50 in the format that year, including the only two hundreds of his career.

The left-hander said the hurt of that decision led him to instead focus on red-ball cricket and that he hadn't sought clarification after being overlooked for the white-ball segment of the Pakistan tour.

"I haven't bothered asking, to be honest," he said.

"The last time I got dropped from the white-ball squad, I was averaging 50 and I think I was the second or third-highest run-scorer in that calendar year in white-ball cricket.

"After that happened, I stopped giving a crap about it, to be honest. If they want to pick me, they can pick me. If they don't, my head's not really there.

"I'm still very fortunate that I get to play Test cricket and for Queensland back home … if any of the other the other stuff comes up, I'd love to do it. I just don't really think about anything that I don't have right in front of me here and now."

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/aar...aja-tour-of-sri-lanka-ipl-pakistan/2022-04-08

 

[BouncerGuy]

Batting brilliantly against West Indies in the 2nd and final test match of the series so far. Got his 50 and it has been a gritty knock so far. Still hanging on.