Australian Test opener Usman Khawaja lashed out Friday at "inflammatory" and "categorically untrue" comments from Queensland's head of cricket after he missed a crucial Sheffield Shield game.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The 38-year-old did not feature in Queensland's clash last week with South Australia in Adelaide which saw them reach the final of the domestic red-ball competition.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He instead flew to Melbourne to watch the Australian Grand Prix.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Queensland's head of cricket Joe Dawes subsequently took aim at the veteran batsman.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Our medical staff said all the way through he has been available for selection," Dawes was widely cited as saying earlier this week.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"That is my understanding from Cricket Australia staff as well. No hamstring issues as far as we are concerned.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It's just disappointing he didn't play a game for Queensland when he had an opportunity to," Dawes added. "I have got a bunch of blokes here that all want to play."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Khawaja called a press conference on Friday to fire back, saying he was managing an ongoing hamstring issue under a plan formulated with Cricket Australia medical staff and chief selector George Bailey.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Khawaja is contracted to Cricket Australia.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Joe Dawes came out the other day and said a few inflammatory things, which was really disappointing to me as a player," he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Joe said the medical staff had no idea (about hamstring injury). That is 100 percent wrong.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I've talked to both our physios... I was talking to the Australian physio the whole time. Everyone knew about it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"That was probably one of the most shocking things I've heard said, which was really disappointing, because it's categorically untrue."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He added that he had Cricket Australia's blessing to attend the grand prix.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I go home and curl up in a ball or I go and watch F1," Khawaja said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I still look after my body. It's not by any coincidence I'm 38 and still playing."<\/p>\r\n\r\n