Usman Khawaja didn’t like losing money so he got the ICC to change rules

Usman Khawaja was so outraged over fines for slow over rates he rang the head of the ICC and got the rules changed.

Usman Khawaja sits with David Warner during the World Test Championship final between Australia and India at The Oval. Picture: Getty Images.

It has been an article of faith in cricket that fines for over rate breaches makes no difference to players, but nobody factored in Usman Khawaja’s outrage at having his generous pay packet clipped by the ICC.

The opener revealed ahead of the fourth Test that he played a key role in getting the ICC to change its over rates regulations after Australia was hit by a range of fines and point penalties in the first three Tests of the English summer.

Pat Cummins and coach Andrew McDonald also argued the case for the players.

The Australian revealed last week that the team was set to lose all the World Test Championship points it gained for a win at Lord’s after being hit for slow over rates. The side had also been slugged for similar offences in the World Test Championship and the first Ashes match at Headingley.

The ICC agreed over the weekend to change the fine structure, lowering penalties to players from 5 per cent per over not bowled from 10 per cent and capping the total fines at 50 per cent of match fees.

Teams are now allowed 80 overs to bowl a side out within rather than 60 to gain immunity from over rate penalties — effectively clearing Australia of its penalties in the Lord’s match.

The players receive $18,722 per Test, $7,529 per ODI and $5,746 a T20 match.

Khawaja was so annoyed about being docked money that he rang the ICC general manager .

“I’ve known Wasim Khan from when I played in Pakistan Super League. He’s now GM at the ICC. I was pretty frustrated with what was happening,’’ Khawaja revealed.

“I’m an ACA (Australian Cricketers Asscociation) board member so do look at what’s around cricket. I just thought some has to find a way to speak to the ICC about it.”

The WTC final against India gained incredible viewership while both England and Australia argued that the Ashes Tests were highly exciting matches with close finishes and few were complaining about over rates.

“We had played three games and they’d been three really good games with results, entertainment, the WTC (final) was the highest-watched Test match ever or something like that,” Khawaja said. “And we were getting fined 80 per cent of our match fee. I felt I needed to speak and Wasim was really good, got him on text, called him, we talked. He took the feedback.”

Khawaja was backed by captain and coach in his complaints.

“Patty talked to him, Andrew McDonald talked to him and to his credit it wasn’t just listening and no action,” he said.

“They came back to use, there was a bit of compromise. ’’

Khawaja said over rates were often beyond the side’s control.

“We are trying to go as fast as we can,” he said. “It’s the conditions that make it hard for us. If you are in India we are never behind the over-rate, two spinners going at it. We were getting results, that’s what was frustrating.

“I think England were frustrated with it, too. Wasim Khan actually listening to the players, getting the feedback and finding the compromise, it’s the first time I’ve been involved that something like that has happened at ICC. I think it’s a really good step forward.”