‘Man of principle’: Usman Khawaja boycotts SEN over Peter Lalor’s axing

Australian opener Usman Khawaja has flat out refused to talk to a popular sports network in protest of a senior reporter’s sacking.

Australian opener Usman Khawaja has decided to boycott SEN in protest over the popular network’s sacking of veteran cricket journalist Peter Lalor.

After Australian players left the field following a disappointing opening day of play in their first Test against the West Indies in Bridgetown, the 38-year-old was scheduled to do a prerecorded interview with SEN.

West Indies vs. Australia Test & T20I Series | Watch every ball LIVE with ESPN, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.

However, as he left the field, Khawaja informed SEN commentators Adam Collins and Bharat Sundaresan that he would not be talking to them or anyone from the SEN network.

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Khawaja’s decision was a direct result of SEN’s decision to dismiss Lalor earlier this year, which was called out at the time by the Test cricket star.

Earlier this year Lalor was on the ground in Sri Lanka covering Australia’s Test match in Galle for SEN, when he was informed on the final morning of the first Test by the station’s chief executive Craig Hutchison that his services were no longer required.

Usman Khawaja has sensationally snubbed SEN in protest. Image: Getty

Station management reportedly took exception to his social media activity, which included re-posts of news stories about Israeli attacks in Gaza, and followed the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.

He was then dismissed as his views and comments reportedly made listeners “uncomfortable”.

Hutchison said in a statement that Lalor would be leaving the network due to “differing views” over the impact the posts on his personal social media accounts had on members of the Australian community.

Khawaja was quick to condemn the move labelling it “unbelievable”.

“Standing up for the people of Gaza is not antisemitic nor does it have anything to do with my Jewish brothers and sisters in Australia, but everything to do with the Israeli government and their deplorable actions,” Khawaja said at the time.

“It has everything to do with justice and human rights.

“Unfortunately hatred towards the Jewish and Muslim community will always exist.

“Pete is a good guy with a good heart. He deserves better.”

Peter Lalor (pictured) was axed by SEN earlier this year.

Craig Hutchison removed Peter Lalor from his post during Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka. Pic: Sam D'Agostino

And Khawaja has not moved on, continuing to refuse interviews with the network, something the veteran cricket reporter – who now puts all his efforts into his Cricket Et Al podcast – greatly appreciated.

 “Usman is a man of principle whose support I valued greatly when I was dismissed and whose ongoing support I appreciate,” Lalor said in a statement following news of Khawaja’s SEN snub.

In February, Lalor opened up on his side of the story, in a post that was later shared by Khawaja.

 “I was told in one call there were serious organisations making complaints; in another, I was told that this was not the case,” Lalor wrote in his statement.

“Perhaps I misunderstood. I was told there were accusations I was antisemitic which I strongly objected to. I was told my retweeting was not balanced and insensitive to one side and that many people had complained.

“I was asked by station boss Craig Hutchison, who was civil if I didn’t care that my retweeting of events in Gaza made Jewish people in Melbourne feel unsafe. I said I didn’t want anyone to feel unsafe. Of course, I care. I have friends who are frightened and have heard the fear in their voices during conversations. It is an awful situation. But so is Gaza. It was a brief and cordial call.

“The following day Hutchison told me that because the ‘sound of my voice made people feel unsafe’ and that people are ‘triggered by my voice’, I could not cover the cricket for them any more.”

Originally published as ‘Man of principle’: Usman Khawaja boycotts SEN over Peter Lalor’s axing