Glamorgan to lose Usman Khawaja earlier than planned in T20 Blast campaign
during game four of the One Day International series between Australia and Pakistan at Sydney Cricket Ground on January 22, 2017 in Sydney, Australia.
(Photo: Getty Images)
By Adam Ellis
Usman Khawaja’s time at Glamorgan this summer will be cut shorter than planned as the top-order batsman will play for Australia A later this summer.
The T20 Blast signing was scheduled to play in all 14 group matches for the county but he has been included in the national side’s squad to play in India in August.
This is around the same time Glamorgan play their last match of the tournament against Surrey on 17 August, the exact day Australia A play their India counterparts.
International duty has already impacted on the county’s plans for success in white-ball cricket this season, as fellow Aussie recruit Shaun Marsh is set to miss the last four matches of the Royal London One-Day Cup to prepare for the ODI series in England.
Glamorgan are actively seeking a replacement for Marsh but with the situation now arising with Khawaja it appears they may have another signature to find to fill the void.
Australia selectors are keen to persevere with Khawaja in Test and the one-day formats, but know there is a lot to be desired with his batting against spin after cheap dismissals on overseas tours.
The 31-year-old scored 333 runs in last winter’s Ashes victory for Australia, scoring at an average of 47.57 batting at no 3 throughout the 4-0 series.