‘Most shocking thing’: Wife furious as SMS exposes cricket bombshell

Usman Khawaja has made extraordinary claims as he faced the press to respond to what he has called “devastating” slurs.

Usman Khawaja has hit back at “devastating” rumours as his feud with Queensland Cricket officials took an explosive turn on Friday morning.

The Australian Test opener did not hold back as he made several startling claims, describing some rumours as “categorically untrue”.

Watch Live & Free coverage of the 2024/25 Sheffield Shield on Kayo Freebies | Join Freebies now, no credit card required >

In a wild press conference, the 38-year-old finally had his say after missing last week’s Sheffield Shield match — instead attending the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne with his wife Rachel. He was even spotted on the global telecast as F1 icon Martin Brundle did his traditional pre-race grid walk segment.

As reported by NewsWire, Khawaja singled out Joe Dawes, claiming the leading Queensland Cricket (QC) official lied in saying the Test opener didn’t have the hamstring injury the veteran batsman gave as the reason for missing the Bulls’ crucial Sheffield Shield match against South Australia.

It has since turned ugly with Khawaja revealing his wife has been left angry with the behaviour of senior Queensland cricket officials.

Among the most hurtful things for Khawaja were suggestions he was not as committed to the team as other players.

You can watch Khawaja’s extraordinary press conference in the video player above.

Usman and Rachel Khawaja at the Australian Grand Prix.

He had batted on the final day of Queensland’s win over Tasmania on March 6, but was not available to play nine days later.

“I played through the Tassie game with an injury, I knew it was a do-or-die game, but more so I left my family before Cyclone Alfred was going to hit,” Khawaja said.

“I sat down with my wife, and this is hand-on-heart the true story, and I was like, ‘I should stay, my family is in Sydney, your family is up the coast, I don’t want you to be home alone if something happens,’ and she dead looked me in the face and said ‘Uzzie, Queensland Cricket has given you so much, you owe it to them to play, we’ve got great neighbours, they’ll look after me if anything happens … we’ll be fine’.

“And to be honest my wife is probably more angry than anyone else, because she’s the one who actually told me to get on the plane and go play Tassie.

“So for Joey Dawes to come out and say I don’t care and I don’t make sacrifices (for Queensland), I left my family here during a cyclone.”

Usman Khawaja bumped into Martin Brundle on his grid walk before the Australian Grand Prix. Photo: Sky Sports.

Khawaja later posted on social media about his hamstring injury after being disappointed by suggestions he didn’t want to play in the match in Adelaide.

Without Khawaja, the Bulls drew the game, which was enough to reach next week’s decider.

However, a rift seems to have developed with the Bulls organisation after Dawes, Queensland Cricket’s head of elite cricket, said “there was no reason” why Khawaja could not have played in the drawn match and insisted Queensland’s medical staff had declared Khawaja available for selection.

Khawaja has a very different version of events and said he had Aussie cricket coach Andrew McDonald’s support.

“I talked to Andrew McDonald yesterday and he said ‘Uzzie what you do with your spare time I have no issue with whatsoever’,” Khawaja said.

“I could either go home and curl up in a ball, or I could go to watch the F1, at the end of the day I’m still doing my rehab, I still got three gym sessions in while I was in Melbourne, I’m still looking after my body.

“It’s not by any coincidence that I’m 38 years old (and still playing). Behind the scenes there’s a lot of work, I do a lot of work and I’m very professional with what I do.

“So I understand people look at it (the pictures at the F1) and they don’t have all the facts and the optics look bad, but I think that’s what was frustrating about it and the reason why I had to speak out.”

Usman Khawaja faced the press on Friday. Photo: Fox Sports News.

Dawes’ earlier comments were enough to infuriate Khawaja.

“For me, the most disappointing thing was, I try to keep this as in house as possible behind the scenes ­— it’s obviously not anymore,” Khawaja said.

“Joe Dawes came out the other day and said a few inflammatory things, which was really disappointing to me as a player, and after that, I just felt like I had to speak up and say something, and give my side of the story.

“The first and foremost thing was Joey said that the medical staff had no idea. That is 100 per cent wrong.

“I’ve talked to both (Queensland) physios. I’ve talked to the Australian physio. I was talking to the Australian physio the whole time. It’s on AMS, our athlete management system. My hammy (injury) is reported. Everything is there. Everyone knew about it.

“That was probably one of the most shocking things I heard said. It was really disappointing, because it’s categorically untrue, so I just wanted to clear that up. (They) 100 per cent knew about my hammy injury.

“People always want to come at me, about not playing this game, not playing that game, but I don’t do anything without talking to Cricket Australia first. Cricket Australia always have final say.

“We discuss, they tell me what they think I should do, and then we go out and actually do it.

“I’m 38 years old. I can’t burn the candle at both ends. I do have to look after myself in some respect, and Queensland cricket do know that.”

Usman Khawaja made a century for Queensland his last Sheffield Shield match. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

Among his most startling claims, he said he did not hear from Dawes or Bulls coach Johan Botha after he texted them about his injury and ability to play against South Australia.

He said the only people to reach out to him during the saga were from Cricket Australia, and that in conversation with national selector George Bailey, he told him he felt like his hamstring was “going to pop”.

He said he felt compelled to respond after rumours began to swirl following Dawes’ comments that Khawaja had opted out of the game in order to attend the weekend’s Grand Prix.

“A few days later I started hearing murmurs and reports about me opting out and I was fuming. I was actually devastated,” he said.

He also said it was “really disappointing that a board member had started to attack me”.

At one point in the press conference, Khawaja said he was getting emotional because of the suggestions he was not giving enough to the team.

Usman Khawaja (right) with Lewis Hamilton's dad Anthony.

Queensland head of cricket Joe Dawes was disappointed Khawaja didn't play. Photo: Fox Sports.

“Joe Dawes came out and said some pretty harsh things to me which was very disappointing,” he said.

“More so for me, the medical stuff, I was flabbergasted about. The other bit about me not wanting to play for Queensland when there’s other blokes around was probably the most disheartening thing.”

Dawes earlier said he was “disappointed” by Khawaja’s actions.

“That is my understanding from Cricket Australia staff as well – no hamstring issues as far as we are concerned,” Dawes said.

“I go off our medical staff and there is no reason why he could not have played the last game.

“It’s just disappointing he didn’t play a game for Queensland when he had an opportunity to.

“I have got a bunch of blokes here that all want to play. I think we are disappointed he did not play the game against South Australia.

“Hopefully he will make that decision to make himself available for next week (for the final) and we will make that decision on Friday.’’

Khawaja suggested he will be available for selection for the upcoming Sheffield Shield final against South Australia, which commences on Wednesday.

He said he would not hold any grudges towards Dawes or QC.

“Joey Dawes has not contacted me, or talked to me about cricket in over a month … but the olive branch is always there. If you don’t know how to make amends in sport, I don’t think you’ll ever succeed in sport,” he said.

“I’m happy to do what’s best for Queensland Cricket.”

He said Friday’s press conference was the first and only time he will publicly address the scandal.

— With Marco Monteverde, NewsWire

Originally published as ‘Most shocking thing’: Wife furious as SMS exposes cricket bombshell