Usman Khawaja has recently found himself at the center of controversy after opting out of Queensland's Sheffield Shield match against South Australia. Instead, he was spotted in Melbourne with his wife, Rachel, attending the Australian Grand Prix. This situation has led to questions regarding Nathan Lyon, who also attended the Grand Prix with his wife, prompting fans to wonder why he is not facing similar scrutiny, especially since he could have participated in the Sheffield Shield match last weekend.

Initially, Cricket Queensland indicated that Khawaja aimed to maintain his fitness for a significant year ahead in Test cricket. He is also dealing with a hamstring injury sustained while scoring a century for Queensland in his last game. However, Joe Dawes, the head of elite cricket at Queensland Cricket, expressed his frustration on Wednesday, making strong statements about Khawaja, asserting that a minor hamstring issue should not have kept him from playing.

“Our medical team has consistently indicated that he was available for selection. This aligns with my understanding from Cricket Australia staff as well. We have no concerns regarding his hamstring,” he stated.

“I rely on our medical staff, and there is no justification for him not participating in the last match. It is disappointing that he missed the opportunity to play for Queensland. I have a group of players eager to compete,” he added.

Khawaja has not publicly addressed these remarks, but reports suggest that the situation has impacted him, potentially affecting his participation in the final. The Sydney Morning Herald noted that Khawaja initially chose not to play in any Sheffield Shield matches but later decided to make himself available for the game against Tasmania. His subsequent decision not to follow through has led to increased criticism.

Nathan Lyon's F1 visit pointed out

Lyon's attendance at the Formula 1 race was highlighted on SEN radio, where a journalist remarked, “I heard that Lyon has been absent from play due to workload concerns. Is that true? A spin bowler whose next first-class match is two months away. Meanwhile, Steve Smith was in America last weekend while NSW was competing.”

“It has become quite common for players to miss games, particularly since NSW has a large number of Test players. Khawaja drew attention, but he might reflect on his decision and conclude that missing the game, especially for the Grand Prix, was not a wise choice. It certainly did not present a favorable image.”

In contrast, Queensland captain Marnus Labuschagne defended Khawaja, emphasizing his age and the importance of keeping him fit for the national team. “We recognize that to get the best performance from him, he needs to be prepared and in good condition to avoid injury,” he stated.

“He is undoubtedly a crucial player for Australia and a significant asset to the national team. Having Uzzie available for the final is nearly ideal—he had a week off and can return to perform in critical matches, which he has proven capable of doing numerous times,” he continued.

However, Khawaja's participation in the final is now uncertain due to Dawes' remarks. Additionally, Cricket Queensland’s Deputy Chair Ian Healy mentioned on SEN radio, “They were not informed of Queensland’s concerns regarding his absence from play.”

“They expressed a desire for us to have contacted them sooner. This was the final round of the Sheffield Shield, crucial for reaching the final… I wanted Cricket Australia to feel some pressure for allowing this situation to occur.”

Players with contracts from Cricket Australia, like Khawaja, are not bound to their state teams, meaning that the opener does not have a formal agreement with Queensland.

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