Usman Khawaja narrates the story behind his delayed arrival in India


image-ldsi7lbdKhawaja is a key player for the Aussies [Twitter]

India are set to host Australia for a four-match Test series with the first Test to be played in Nagpur from February 9. An important member of the Australian Test team, Khawaja faced a delay in getting visa clearance for the India tour.

While the rest of the squad flew out of Sydney on Tuesday following the annual Australian cricket awards, where Khawaja was named the men's Test player of the year, the left-handed Queensland batter was left behind without clearance to enter India.

Speaking to The Age, the veteran Test batter expressed disappointment on missing the direct flight from Sydney to Bangalore by saying:

"It was what it was – I just wanted to get over there to be honest. There’s a good Sydney flight straight from Sydney to Bangalore and I missed that unfortunately, which sucked."

With his roots in the sub-continent, Khawaja is expected to be a key player for Australia at the top of the order. He is one of the better players of spin bowling in the current Australian setup and he was one of the architects of Australia's famous win in Pakistan last year. 

The southpaw has got a great technique and temperament to counter all types of bowlers. His technique is tailor-made for the Indian subcontinent conditions. If Australia wants to secure a series win in India, then being a senior batter Khawaja has to play a big part in it.


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