Usman Khawaja shocked by CA cash-flow crisis

I still think Khawaja's best chance is to open, James. The other candidates, including Burns had seasons last year ranging from just okay to dead ordinary. As you rightly point out, there are plenty of candidates who will hopefully keep Wade & Head honest, so if Uzzie wants to wear the baggy green again, he needs to open.

If he scores runs for Qld he is still a chance. That top six is far from settled. However if someone like Pucovski also scores runs, then who knows, the selectors could go for the younger player.

I'm sure a lot of players are asking the same questions, along with fans. But actually making the comment is a bold step further! If we've seen the last of him in national colours, for whichever reasons, a lucrative freelancing end to his career should exist - as most would recall his T20 abilities.

33 years old is starting to get up there. I get the feeling he might be seen as a part of that Sean Marsh era. Both on their day are probably as good as there is in domestic Australian cricket,but I don't know whether either fits the Langer narrative looking ahead.

I totally agree, it's great to see and hear a player speaking his mind - but he needs to very careful what he says. I go back to his comments as quote din this piece; "“I was very shocked. Because I knew our projections for revenue were still very high and I think they still are, depending on what happens with the Indian series,” Khawaja told Fox Sports. “It’s a bit confusing. I don’t have all the financial information in front of me, but it seems like it’s more of a cash-flow problem at the moment. “There’s obviously a little bit of mismanagement there somewhere, with the portfolio and putting a lot of money into the share market. “To me that’s Business 101. To make sure you have enough cash reserves if crap hits the fan." On the one hand, he's saying he doesn't have all the information but then goes ahead and points fingers about poor financial practices. It's entirely possible he's right, but right now, neither he nor any of the rest of us know for sure what's going on with the dollars at CA. He should have a say and I'm glad someone has, but for a highly intelligent bloke, some of these remarks aren't real smart, IMO.

Don’t think you could have put it any better Paul. Unfortunately for Khawaja he loves to whine when things don’t go his way. It has happened all his career. Talented no doubt, under achiever, no doubt. Cricket Australia would have to be considering whether he’s worth the effort now.

I was interested by Langer's comments of Khawaja as shown in the Ashes tv series. Langer essentially described Khawaja as a highly intelligent man always prepared to ask the hard question or voice the opinion of the group when others were maybe not prepared to. He mentioned here that he was friends with some of those stood down, so unless he was using the usual press conference out of throwing in disclaimers, then he is talking about the things he's been discussing with those friends, without the hackneyed 'a source close' garbage prevalent in the polliecrat/media circus we get fed daily. I tend to think Langer might be right, he's direct, no longer beholden to CA under contract, was asked the question and answered the question. Bloody refreshing if that is the case.

Ideal opportunity for ALL organisations to cull the dead wood and reassess what is truly needed and important in providing the best product for the consumer. 25 years of recession free economy has ludicrous levels of risk management, oh&s, publicity flunkies, analysts, computer modellers, recently graduated 'advisers' and 'accredited' think tanks to 'assist stakeholders ensure full engagement with consumers'. Nothing results in a rethink of what is TRULY necessary than lack of money to produce the goods or service. CA doesn't need a high rise full of manufactured degrees or accredited 'insert job title here' to beat India. They need smart selectors choosing inform cricketers, which will in turn excite fans and drive sponsors. Back to basics had to come, this is the catalyst. Just as you can insert an irrelevant job title, you should substitute CA with any other sporting organisation, business, utility and especially government funded bodies. We've never been able to afford irrelevant groups of people constantly taking courses for irrelevant CPD points, purely to keep them and the 'educators' off the unemployment line. The employees in the CA coffee shop who were the first to be stood down will return as they provide a tangible product. The people buying the coffee should be the long term casualties. I guarantee their absence won't be noticed by fans, but the benefits to grassroots cricket will be.

Yeah, well... He's absolutely top 6 in the country purely in terms of talent, but his output over the past couple of years really does not reflect that. Needs to do much more if he wants to get back in. I genuinely don't remember the last time he scored a Shield ton. Also, what's going on with those spin comments? One great match doesn't override all the mediocrity that proceeded it. He may have improved but it's a stretch and a half to suggest you're among the best in the country. He's not even the best player of spin in the QLD top order.

well, he's saying he wants to get back into the team and reckons he's one of the best 6 bats in the country, so perhaps focusing on helping you boys first off, then Australia, should be his main plan.

Yep. Love Ussie but he was awful for us in the Shield when he had the perfect opportunity to score bulk runs and prove he deserved to be picked. Not doing any favours for himself here. Unless he thinks that he's no chance of getting back in regardless and feels there's no reason to hold back - which would be pretty disappointing from both a QLD and Australia perspective.

It concerns me Khawaja is making statements about financial issues where he can't have all the relevant information, because CA is telling the players it needs more information. I'm also wondering how he decided "There’s obviously a little bit of mismanagement there somewhere"? He has a degree in aviation, not accounting, so unless there's some correlation between flying a plane & finances, he might be best to say nothing and focus on getting back into the Australian team.