Usman Khawaja hits back at Queensland Cricket high performance head ahead of Sheffield Shield final

Australia opener Usman Khawaja has announced that he will be play for Queensland in the Sheffield Shield final despite having trouble with his hamstring.

The 38-year-old opener has also slammed Queensland Cricket high performance head Joe Dawes for saying that he had no idea about Khawaja’s hamstring injury.

“Joey said the medical staff had no idea: that is 100 per cent wrong,” Khawaja told reporters.

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“I was talking to the Australian physio the whole time.

“Everyone knew about it … that was one of the most shocking things … categorically untrue.

“I don’t do anything without talking to CA first. They always have final say.”

Earlier this week, Khawaja was photographed at the Grand Prix and was even captured on the grid pre-race by television cameras at Albert Park.

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“I go home and curl up in a ball, or I go and watch F1,” Khawaja said.

“I still look after my body. It’s not by any coincidence I’m 38 and still playing.

“The optics look bad … that’s why I wanted to speak out.

“I still do love Queensland Cricket, no matter what happens.”

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The Sheffield Shield Final between South Australia and Queensland at Karen Rolton Oval is set to begin on Wednesday, March 26.

“The hammy is feeling pretty good, I’ve gone pretty hard on my loading on it over the last week-and-a-half,” he said.

“If it feels like it did in Tassie, I’m still willing to push for the Shield final.

“It was just hard to push for the game before knowing that if I injured myself then I was gone for the Shield final.

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“I’m more willing to push myself for the Shield final because I have a bit of a break after it.”

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