Cummins rejects Khawaja’s claim race shaped 2018 captaincy

Pat Cummins has rejected Usman Khawaja’s assertion that race was the principal reason he was overlooked for Australia’s interim captaincy in 2018, saying the allegation was serious and required evidence. Khawaja made the claim in his autobiography, while Cummins said he did not believe skin colour influenced the decision.

Khawaja wrote that after Steve Smith was sent home during the 2018 South Africa tour, he believed he was a natural choice to lead the team temporarily. Tim Paine was appointed instead. Khawaja said his involvement in earlier pay disputes with Cricket Australia may have affected his chances, but that his Pakistani heritage was the more important reason.

In his account, Khawaja said he believed selectors were not ready for a brown Australian captain, even on an interim basis. He also recounted being told by a journalist that the chairman of selectors had said he did not have what the team wanted in a captain. The reports do not include a contemporaneous statement from the selectors explaining their decision.

Cummins, speaking at a press conference, disputed Khawaja’s interpretation. He said the suggestion that the captaincy was restricted by skin colour was a...