Usman Khawaja reveals financial factor behind players' T20 cricket preference over Test matches

Australia opener Usman Khawaja expects international boards to step up to protect Test cricket. Recently, legendary cricketer Steve Waugh pleaded for administrators to get serious about red-ball cricket as he believes that many cricketers are draining away from the longest form of the game. Khawaja’s comments came shortly after that, as the southpaw believes that the only way to save Test cricket is to give a good salary to players preferring to play this format despite the T20 craze.

The 37-year-old mentioned that he had a word with multiple cricketers throughout the game. After this, he understood their reason for playing T20 cricket over Test matches. He explained that the decision for the players is relatively easy as they are getting paid much more in the shortest format, which works in favour of them and their families. 

“If I was a player from another nation and getting paid ok to play international cricket, I’m getting paid a truckload more to play T20 cricket, I’m sorry but I’m going to be playing the T20 cricket. Not because it doesn’t mean anything - I love playing for my country, but it is also a case of looking after your family, doing things right," Khawaja said while talking to Fox Sports.

“In my personal opinion, unfortunately, the issue is that some of the other countries aren’t getting paid as well for playing international cricket. That’s just the raw facts. I know this because I’ve talked to players from other nations, I’ve asked them what their average salary is, what their match contracts are for their countries,” he added.

Got to figure out a way for other countries to continue playing Test cricket: Khawaja

Khawaja wants all the other cricketing boards to be transparent about their finances so that other countries can help them if required. He wants the money to go to the right places and the players to earn well to protect Test cricket.

“We’ve got to figure out a way for them (other countries) to be incentivised to play international and particularly Test cricket. That requires transparency from all cricket boards to try to figure out how to pay the players the best way they can.

“Once you can get on top of that, if you see a massive shortfall for say the Windies, they’re struggling, they’re not bringing in enough money, then world cricket needs to gather round to help. But until you get that clarity and 100% know the money isn’t being misallocated, it is hard to know,” the opener mentioned.