Australia batter Usman Khawaja has admitted that he would have stopped taking part in Test cricket by now, had he been requested to play for inferior wages by the board of some other cricketing nation. Ever since South Africa introduced their squad for the upcoming Test sequence towards New Zealand, a number of former cricketers have raised issues over the way forward for the ‘purest format of the sport’. For context, Proteas have named a second string squad for the 2 match Test sequence towards the Kiwis. Uncapped batter Neil Brand is about to steer out the South African group, consisting of simply three gamers from the continued Test sequence towards India.

Khawaja, on the suggestions of colleagues from different groups, has admitted that a number of the international locations pay much less to Test cricketers.

“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,” Khawaja instructed Fox Cricket, as quoted by Sydney Morning Herald.

Khawaja additionally confessed that he would’ve picked franchise over Test cricket, had he been taking part in cricket for international locations providing much less wages. He added that the gamers choose franchise cricket to safe the way forward for their household, and the choice has nothing to do with ardour.

“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. If two people get paid to do the same job and you’re getting paid twice as much at one firm and half at the other firm, you’re going to pick the one you’re getting paid [more] for,” he added.

In order to save lots of Test cricket, former Australia captain Steve Waugh has vouched for a common match price for all gamers participating in Test cricket.

Khawaja echoed Waugh’s sentiments, however felt that will be attainable provided that the cricket boards present extra “transparency”, so far as the cashflow is anxious

“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 around the world to try to figure out how to pay the players the best way they can,” he concluded.