Khawaja blasts Cricket Australia’s finances
Discarded batsman Usman Khawaja has accused Cricket Australia of financial ‘‘mismanagement’’ as hopes were raised the embattled sport can avoid the doomsday scenario of a summer without international matches.
As states brace for further pain in anticipation of funding cuts from head office, Khawaja expressed his disbelief at the governing body’s finances following the standing down of 200 staff last month in a bid to slash costs.
Khawaja’s broadside came as NRL club the New Zealand Warriors were given clearance by Border Force to fly to Australia in a development that Cricket Australia (CA) will hope is a portent of things to come. The Warriors flew out for Tamworth yesterday.
There is scepticism among states and the players union about CA’s financial forecasts, though the point has not been made quite as pointedly as by Khawaja.
‘‘I was very shocked,’’ he told Fox Sports. ‘‘Because I knew our projections for revenue were still very high and I think they still are, depending on what happens with the Indian series.
‘‘It’s a bit confusing. I don’t have all the financial information in front of me, but it seems like it’s more of a cash-flow problem at the moment.
‘‘There’s obviously a little bit of mismanagement there somewhere, with the portfolio and putting a lot of money into the sharemarket.
‘‘To me, that’s business 101. To make sure you have enough cash reserves if crap hits the fan.’’
CA’s cash assets fell by about $170 million (NZ$180m) between June 2016 and June 2019.
There is universal acceptance within Australian cricket that the game will be in strife if India cannot tour in summer.
The tests and one-day internationals against the world powerhouse are worth an estimated A$300 million to the governing body, which explains why one state has dubbed next season the ‘‘cash cow’’ in CA’s four-year economic cycle.
The approval given for 36 Warriors players and staff to isolate, train and play in Tamworth is encouraging for CA, which will be hoping a similar exemption can be given to Virat Kohli’s side.
‘‘It’s positive news for the possibility of international teams coming to Australia,’’ a CA spokesperson said. ‘‘All options will be considered. We will do whatever it takes to return to cricket as soon as possible.’’