[caption id="attachment_4394" align="alignnone" width="580"]Usman-Khawaja Usman Khawaja has been included in Australian ODI squad as a replacement for Warner . Image Source : punjabtribune.com[/caption] Melbourne : Queensland and Sydney Thunder batsman Usman Khawaja has been drafted into the Australia squad for the Victoria Bitter ODI Series against India. Khawaja comes in for David Warner, whose wife Candice is expecting the couple’s second child in the very near future. Khawaja will join the squad in Brisbane and, at this stage, will remain for matches two and three of the five-game series, at The Gabba (15 January) and in Melbourne, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) (17 January). While he is with the squad Khawaja will remain unavailable for duty with the Thunder. Commenting on Usman Khawaja’s call-up, National Selector Rod Marsh said: “Usman has been in fantastic form this season and was unlucky to miss out on a place in our squad for the Victoria Bitter ODI Series in the first place. “This call-up is a reward for that form and it is great to have someone of his quality to step into the squad in David’s absence. “We wish both David and Candice well and look forward to welcoming David back into the squad when circumstances allow.” Khawaja’s most recent innings was a 42-ball 62 for the Thunder against the Melbourne Renegades on 11 January and that followed on from his scores of 144 and 56 against the West Indies in the Boxing Day Test of the Commonwealth Bank series. That was his comeback to international cricket after a hamstring injury struck following scores of 174, nine not out and 121 in Test action against New Zealand. And after recovering from that injury, his first innings back was a brilliant 109 from 70 balls for the Thunder against the Melbourne Stars at the MCG on 20 December.   Courtesy :Cricket Australia  

Khawaja Called Up As Warner Goes On Paternity Leave