Star Test opener Usman Khawaja is pleased to play cricket on January 26 however says it’s not the suitable date to be celebrating Australia Day.
The 2023-24 summer season of cricket will embody a pink-ball, day-night Test between Australia and the West Indies beginning on the Gabba on January 25.
Indigenous ladies’s cricket star Ash Gardner has slammed the scheduling, saying it wasn’t “appropriate” to be enjoying sport on a “day of mourning”.
“I see sport as a celebration and entertainment and an event you want to go to,” Gardner mentioned on Sunday.
“Why does there need to be something that represents something that’s quite morbid?”
Pakistan-born Khawaja, who moved to Australia as a baby along with his household, mentioned he didn’t “have an issue” with enjoying on January 26,
However, he referred to as for Australia Day to be celebrated on a unique date.
“We should celebrate it on a day that caters for all parts of Australia, and I’m big on that in Australian cricket too,” he mentioned.
“You’ve got First Nations people, we’ve got myself (who are) immigrants who’ve come to Australia.
“We do need to look at it. I think it doesn’t matter when you celebrate Australia Day – the reasons you’re celebrating Australia Day are more important.
“You’re celebrating for Australia, celebrating for you, celebrating for me, celebrating it for First Nations people, celebrating for all the multicultural communities we have across Australia.
“We’re all immigrants here, other than First Nations people, so for me, Australia Day is a beautiful day and I honestly believe it should be celebrated on another day.”
Queensland captain Khawaja mentioned he was excited a few day-night Test being performed on the Gabba however hoped the Brisbane venue would ultimately be restored as the bottom for the summer season’s first Test.
“Everyone knows I love day-night Test cricket. I get to have a sleep in. I get to come in late, I’m feeling good about myself … the pink ball can be a little bit troubling as an opening batsman, but I’ll accept that for a little bit more of a sleep,” he mentioned.
“I expect the Gabba to get that first Test back in the future years. You want to be playing that Gabba first Test match and you don’t want to be playing too many late (summer) Test matches at the Gabba because that’s when the rains start coming too.
“You got to be mindful of that.”
Khawaja additionally referred to as for the SCG to stay the continued house of the New Year’s Test regardless of a push from South Australia’s authorities for Adelaide Oval to change into the brand new house for the early January Test.
“I do like change but I’ve always just been Boxing Day (Test in Melbourne) and the New Year’s (Test in Sydney),” the 36-year-old former NSW batsman mentioned.
“For the last few years it’s rained a little bit (in Sydney) and people are getting a little bit annoyed with that, but we’ve had some great Test matches at the SCG, even with the rain … but the scheduling is changing all the time.
“I do like Boxing Day (in Melbourne) into Sydney. It’s a nice time of the year, it is a family period for us players, our wives and our children are normally there too.”
Originally printed as Test opener Usman Khawaja OK about enjoying on January 26 however needs Australia Day date moved
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
