Australian opener Usman Khawaja believes the constant reshuffling in Pakistan cricket could be the reason behind his team’s poor performance in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
Pakistan lost their opening two matches and were eliminated from the group stage of the tournament for the first time in their history. The Greens suffered a humiliating defeat to the United States in the Super Over and then lost to arch rivals India by six runs, falling just short of their target of 120.
Later, the match between Ireland and USA ended in a rain-affected draw, resulting in a draw on points, indirectly eliminating Pakistan from the tournament.
The Greens ended their worst performance in the T20 World Cup by winning the tournament’s final two matches, a lackluster performance against Canada and a tense chase against Ireland.
Speaking at an event in Melbourne earlier this week, Khawaja, who was born in Islamabad and plays for Australia, said: “I have seen this happen. I was a bit surprised by the USA game. I think Pakistan should have won.”
“lastly [Haris] “Rauf was bowling and there were a lot of runs being scored so I thought Harris would close it down,” he said, adding that he was surprised why Shaheen Shah Afridi was not awarded the Super Over.
“There are no easy games in the World Cup and the same thing will happen to Australia, they will just lose,” he said.
“I just have to accept it, move on and focus on what the next World Cup has to offer,” Khawaja said.
He said he saw a lot of talent in Pakistan but as an outsider he felt the Pakistan team was constantly being reshuffled.
“Selection changes, selectors change, staff change and players change. I think when that happens it becomes very difficult to win cricket matches,” Khawaja said.
“You need consistency. If the players are not consistent it’s very difficult to perform,” he said.
“When you look at the Pakistan team you see they are inconsistent and as a player I know how difficult it is to play like that,” he said.
Replying to a question on Babar Azam’s appointment as captain, Khawaja said the decision lies with Azam.
“If he wants to be captain, he should be the captain,” he said, adding that Pakistan’s expectations were always a bit “high”.
“It’s a very tough match. There can only be one winner. Unless we win the World Cup. […] It’s exactly the same […] “What happens if we lose in the top eight?” he said.
Commenting on Pat Cummins’ consecutive hat-tricks, Khawaja said the Australian fast bowler is “the best bowler in the world”.
“We are not lucky that he is the best bowler in the world,” he said, adding that the T20 format gives bowlers more opportunities as batsmen focus on scoring quick runs.
“Either we’ll lose badly or we’ll get a lot of wickets,” he said.
He said he was worried about the England side as they were following a similar style of play that helped Australia and Pakistan reach the finals in the 2021 and 2022 tournaments.
“I’m more worried about England than anyone. They struggled a bit with the way they started the tournament and almost got knocked out. I’ve seen this play before. Australia were in the World Cup two years ago and we won,” he said.
“You saw what Pakistan did in the last T20 World Cup, they should have lost, somehow they went through and made it to the final, so I’m worried about England,” he added.
Khawaja questions why Australia can’t deal with Afghanistan through bilateral negotiations
Khawaja questioned why Cricket Australia was willing to play Afghanistan in an ICC tournament but not in a bilateral series, adding that it was disappointing for someone like him who wants to see cricket grow.
In March, Cricket Australia postponed a men’s T20 international series against Afghanistan scheduled for later this year, saying the situation for women in the Taliban-controlled country was unacceptable.
The Australian board said it had decided to “postpone” the three-match series, scheduled for August at a neutral venue, after being advised of the “deteriorating situation for Afghan women and girls”.
Cricket’s popularity in Afghanistan has soared in recent years thanks to sporadic wins against bigger nations on the international stage.
But under the Taliban’s style of governance in Afghanistan, women remained effectively shut out of the game.
Khawaja said she understood the decision was made in the interest of women’s rights and that she stood by that position, but added that her Afghan colleagues shared the same view.
“I saw tweets by Rashid Khan, Nabi and Mujib who spoke out for women’s rights,” he said.
He said he spoke to Rashid on the issue and the wrist spinner said such decisions do not hurt the government but rather people who love the sport.
According to Khawaja, Rashid said, “People who love cricket become happy when they watch cricket.”
“If we are going to play against them in the ICC, why can’t we play them here,” Khawaja said.
