Usman Khawaja considering moving to Queensland

Sydney: Out of favour, Australian Test batsman Usman Khwaja is mulling a move to Queensland after telling Bulls players he wants to move north.

It`s thought that a combination of cricket and personal factors may be the trigger for Khawaja`s potential career switch away from New South Wales (NSW). It would be another great deal for Queensland`s Sheffield Shield-winning coach Darren Lehmann after Peter Forrest too moved from NSW to Queensland. The left-hander, who was struggling to get a game for NSW, has played 11 one-day internationals since moving to Brisbane last season. In contrast, Khawaja`s career has gone backwards since he was axed after playing the last of his six Tests last December. Pakistan-born Khawaja had become Australia`s first Muslim cricketer but he averaged just 23 in first-class cricket last summer. A move north could be just the tonic to re-invent Khawaja`s career and give him fresh focus outside of some of the issues that have been weighing him down in Sydney. IANS