Sky is the limit for Pakistan-born Australian debutant

PUNE (India) Usman Khawaja, the first Pakistani-born player to represent Australia will pursue his aviation career after his playing days are over, said his manager Daniel Zammit. Speaking to this scribe immediately after the inclusion of Usman Khawaja in the Australian Test squad to play against birth country-Pakistan, at neutral venue in England next month, the manager said, Usman Khawaja is a pilot and like his father Tariq Khawaja (a computer engineer working for IBM) he went to university for degree. He has a degree in aviation and as a commercial pilot often flies aeroplanes but will make his career in aviation only after retirement from cricket. He is presently focussing only on the game. Usman is very excited to be in the side and will try to grab early spot in the playing XI. He also has support of four players: Simon Katich, Nathan Hauritz, Michael Clarke (vice captain) and Brad Haddin, who all have played with him. Their experience and skills will benefit Usman a great deal. Usman considers himself as an Australian and therefore will have no problem to face the Pakistanis. Informing more about Usman, he says, The 23-year-old left-hander batsman and right arm medium pacer is a very quiet and studious man. He writes blogs with great humour. Besides this, Usman is religious and always tries to attend namaz during Ramadhan festivals.

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