Australia top-order batsman Usman Khawaja has requested for privacy for himself and his family after his brother Arsalan was charged and arrested by the country’s counter-terrorism force on Tuesday.
Arsalan Khawaja was placed on arrest and refused bail over a fake terror plot to kill senior Australian politicians, including former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
The 39-year-old was arrested by the New South Wales police from Sydney and charged with an attempt to pervert justice and forgery.
Usman Khawaja, who is due to turn out for Australia in their opening Test against India at Adelaide from Thursday, received the news of his brother’s arrest while batting in the nets on Tuesday morning.
“This is a matter for the police to deal with,” the Australian batsman was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.
Khawaja is expected to bat at No3 in the series against India.
“Out of respect for the process it’d be inappropriate for me to be making any further comment. I just ask for you to please respect my privacy and my family’s privacy during this time.”
Australia Test vice-captain Mitchell Marsh refused to comment on the matter on his part.
“We only found out at training, so I think it’d be pretty inappropriate for me to comment at the moment,” Marsh stated.
Khawaja is expected to take the number three spot in the Australia batting order when the first Test against India gets underway at the Adelaide Oval. The 31-year-old has only recently recovered from a knee injury he sustained during Australia’s tour of the UAE to take on Pakistan.
