Srinagar, Febuary 8: Australia batsman Usman Khawaja us likely going to miss birth of his second child during his time with Australia cricket team as part of Pakistan tour in March.
Australia’s full strength squad is set to tour Pakistan after 24 years.
Usman, who will be opening for Australia in the first test, and his wife Rachel are expecting their second child in mid to late April.
The Test series is scheduled to finish on March 25 but it is a possibility that he might miss the birth if the baby is born earlier than expected.
“She’s very understanding. We even had a conversation about what happens if we had a baby mid-Test match. She knows I love playing cricket, it’s very important to me, she’s very supportive of that, and she knows I try to support her any way I can,” Khawaja was quoted as saying.
“But fingers crossed she doesn’t have a baby while we’re away. I was always going to go. It’s going to take me a lot to come back, it is Test cricket for Australia. I’m sort of not thinking about it because I don’t want it to happen, but ask me if it does happen,” Khawaja said.
Australia chairmain of selectors has said that Usman Khawaja would be opening alongside David Warner.
“I’d certainly think David Warner and Uz would likely start as the openers in Pakistan, but we also are aware, not that age is a be all and end all barrier, both Uz and Bull are reasonably old,” chairman of selectors George Bailey said.
“We’ve got a lot of subcontinental cricket over the next 12-18 months so it’s important to focus on a succession plan there and develop Harry’s skills.”
Australia announced their squad for the Test series on Tuesday, with 14 of the 15 players who featured in the Ashes all named, while Jhye Richardson has been rested. Leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson and back-up wicketkeeper Josh Inglis make it to the final squad, while all-rounder Mitchell Marsh and spinner Ashton Agar return to the group.