Veteran Aussie opener, Usman Khawaja, is sure that a shock defeat to Afghanistan would not deter his team’s chances of winning the T20 World Cup for the second time since 2021.
Even if they are beat by India at Gros Islet in their final Super 8s encounter on Monday Afghanistan will have to make up net run-rate against Australia.
Before the last Super 8s match between Australia and India, Khawaja said to PTI Videos in an interview “if Australia beats India and makes it to the semi-final, I think definitely, I think they can win. I think we’ve just got to get to the semifinal”.
Usman Khawaja talked about how Australia could refine themselves during elimination phases.
“We’re a great knockout team,” this has been proven over many years. Over time, most times when there is always a knock out situation we won but we just need to reach there.”
Usman Khawaja understandably wants his opening partner’s farewell with a T20 World Cup win for Australia which he had from the other end of the 22-yard line watching David Warner perform.
Khawaja would like Warner’s retirement from international cricket after Australia’s ongoing T20 World Cup ends — that is only after victory in the much-wanted final match.
“As a friend I’d like him (Warner) to finish on high. He’s play some really good cricket. It’s been great watching him play cricket again. You can tell he’s just enjoying being out there. He’s playing pretty relaxed. So he should. Yeah it’ll be good,” according to Usman Khawaja.
Accordingly Marsh received praise from Khawaja for his leadership attributes who also stated that his captaincy reflects the type of individual he is.
“I reckon his captaincy is just him.” It’s himself as well as personally.“He doesn’t try and do anything that he isn’t. He’s pretty chilled out. He goes out there, he plays the game, takes games on, leads from the front and leads by example. So yeah, I’ve really enjoyed his captaincy,” he added.
However, the 37-year-old batsman who was born in Pakistan and has featured in 73 Test matches. For the ‘Baggy Greens’ maintained that no team is unbeatable but did admit to a tough task against India.
“India is always a threat I mean.” They got batters down one end and down the other end of the line-up. They have great bowlers. Excellent spinners they have as well as they literally have all bases covered like they always do so I wouldn’t go out. And say that India are miles ahead of any other team better than anyone else because they’re not.”
“So according to me at least in T20 cricket particularly on any day any team can beat anyone else”, he pointed out.
Khawaja characterized Australia’s upcoming Ashes series at home in 2025 along with versus India as “the ultimate cricket matches”.
“It’s always hard beating them in their own country,” Usman Khawaja said of India. But last couple of series Indian defeated Australia which is never nice for an Australian. So we’ve got a lot to play for it’s a big series England and India are my two biggest series,” he exclaim PTI HN
Lastly, Khawaja also looked at Test cricket’s appeal within Australia over time and Cricket Australia’s recent golden ticket project.
In Australian cricket, the baggy green remains the ultimate pinnacle. We’re quite fortunate here in Australia. Truly excellent remunerations for Test cricket are still there though. However, it is not so elsewhere. Hence, this varies a bit for us. We do not need to try very hard. It is because we have an age-long practice of it. And children now growing up still desire baggy greens,” he stated.
