Veteran comedian Mick Molloy has savaged cricketer Marcus Harris ahead of Australia’s tour of India. Opening batter Harris, 30, was overlooked last month for the series in the subcontinent which starts on February 9 in Nagpur – but that didn’t stop funny man Molloy having a dig at him.
‘The Indians singled him (Khawaja) out the reason was his batting average is too high,’ he joked. ‘If he nicks a few [balls] early they may reconsider but they [Indian consulate] are willing to offer Marcus Harris a visa.’
Speaking on Channel 7’s The Front Bar, Molloy ‘revealed’ why the Indians queried the terms of Usman Khawaja’s visa, which saw him briefly stranded in Australia while the rest of the team flew out for the tour.
Khawaja, 36, is now with his teammates abroad after his visa papers were finally rubber-stamped late on Wednesday night. He holds an Australian passport – but any visa applicant to India who was born in Pakistan must fill in a separate part of the application form.
‘Me waiting for my Indian Visa like… #stranded #dontleaveme #standard #anytimenow,’ the 36-year-old posted when he was left at Sydney Airport. After flying to Melbourne and preparing to sleep in a hotel, Khawaja was informed – on Twitter – by India’s High Commissioner to Australia, Manpreet Vohra his visa had finally been accepted.
‘Regards and best wishes from the High Commission and Consulate General of India.’ Khawaja boarded a flight early on Thursday morning and will join his teammates at a training camp in Bangalore ahead of the first Test. ‘Your visa is being issued and collected right now. Have a wonderful tour and series,’ Vohra wrote on Wednesday night.
