In the lead-up to the 3rd Test match between Australia and Pakistan, opener Usman Khawaja expressed his current struggle for motivation to play cricket. The reason behind this sentiment is the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has left Gaza in a dire state for several months.
Khawaja revealed to Fox Cricket that the war has significantly impacted him, leading to a notable lack of motivation. His desire to wear a peace logo during the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne as a symbolic protest against the war was met with denial by the International Cricket Council, sparking criticism.
“I don’t make these decisions impulsively, it’s something that has been bothering me for quite some time. When I was playing Sheffield Shield cricket before the Test series, my motivation was really low. I discussed it with my wife, Rachel, our sports psychologist, Brent Membrey, and Cricket Australia. I conveyed to them that I am currently facing a significant struggle with motivation,” Khawaja said in an interview with Fox Sports.
The war’s toll on innocent lives, especially children, deeply affected Khawaja. He expressed that playing cricket felt inconsequential during such a tragic time.
“When I see people, especially innocent kids, dying and watch videos of it, it really makes me feel sad. Playing cricket seems unimportant, and I’m having a hard time with it. It has affected me a lot, and I’ve been thinking a lot about what I can do without making people feel left out or separated”, he added.
Despite being in decent form in the ongoing Test series against Pakistan, he is yet to score a century. As the series concludes with the final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Khawaja hopes to turn his fortunes around, both on and off the field.