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Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne will participate
in the opening match of the BBL, according to Cricket Australia. The Brisbane
Heat were forced to forfeit four players due to Prime Minister’s XI
responsibilities.
Heat announced on Friday that Khawaja and Labuschagne
would play their opening-round match on December 7 against the Melbourne Stars.
On December 9, in Adelaide, the day the Test team is
scheduled to report to camp in Perth, the two players may also have an
opportunity to participate in the Heat’s second game.
The players may finally make that option because the
Heat don’t want to jeopardise their preparations for the first Test against
Pakistan on December 14.
“We are delighted to confirm Usman and Marnus’s
availability for the opening night of the Big Bash League,” Brisbane Heat
CEO Terry Svenson said.
“Both players have had incredible years across
the World Test Championship and Ashes plus Australia’s recent World Cup
victory, so it’s wonderful our home fans can see them in action to kick the
season off.
“Both Usman and Marnus are passionate about
playing for Heat and I’m sure our fans will be looking forward to seeing them
both in teal before the Test summer begins.”
The Heat lost four players to PM’s starting XI, hence
the decision was made to clear the pair to play at the beginning of the BBL.
This week, it was confirmed that Michael Neser, Matt Renshaw, Jimmy Peirson,
and Nathan McSweeney would be playing for the PM in the four-day tournament
that begins in Canberra on December 6.
The AAP is aware that Cricket Australia and the clubs,
who feared losing their star players to the tour match, were at odds over the
choices made for the PM’s game.
Mark Steketee and Beau Webster have both been ruled
out of the Stars’ team for the tournament’s opening match; however, Australian
white-ball players Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis, who returned from India a
few days prior, will be available.