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Comedian Mick Molloy takes a WILD jab at Australian cricketer Marcus Harris as he jokes about the real reason India denied Usman Khawaja a visa and left him stranded in Australia.
- Marcus Harris was targeted by Mick Molloy at The Front Bar
- Molloy joked that the Indian consulate would happily give Harris a visa.
- Following a visa delay involving Usman Khawaja on Tuesday
Veteran comedian Mick Molloy has savagely attacked cricketer Marcus Harris ahead of Australia’s tour of India.
Opening batsman Harris, 30, was passed over last month for the subcontinental series which begins on February 9 in Nagpur, but that didn’t stop the humorous Molloy from criticizing him.
Speaking on Channel 7’s The Front Bar, Molloy ‘revealed’ why the Indians questioned the terms of Usman Khawaja’s visa, which left him briefly stranded in Australia while the rest of the team flew out for the tour.
“The Indians singled him out (Khawaja) … the reason was his batting average is too high,” he quipped.
‘If he dents some [balls] soon they may reconsider… but [Indian consulate] They are willing to offer Marcus Harris a visa.
Molloy’s playful jab was met with laughter from the audience.
Veteran comedian and Front Bar star Mick Molloy has savagely attacked cricketer Marcus Harris ahead of Australia’s tour of India.
Harris has been unable to dislodge Usman Khawaja and David Warner from the Australian Test squad
Harris made his Test debut in 2018 but has been unable to cement his place in Australia’s XI.
The selectors opted to choose Khawaja and David Warner to face the new ball, and the pair, who first played together as juniors in eastern Sydney, have proven dynamic at the top of the order.
Khawaja, 36, is now with his teammates abroad after his visa documents were finally stamped on Wednesday evening.
He holds an Australian passport, but any Indian visa applicant who was born in Pakistan must complete a separate part of the application form.
The father-of-two, who was crowned Test Player of the Year on Monday, expressed his frustration at the delay on social media.
On Wednesday, Khawaja used a Facebook post (pictured) to inform his fans that he was still waiting for his visa to arrive, adding the caption ‘#stranded #standard’
In 2011, the star batsman (pictured playing against South Africa in January) was initially denied a visa by India, a decision he angrily said was based on the fact that he was born in the country’s great rival Pakistan before emigrate to Australia as a young child.
“Me waiting for my Indian visa like… #stranded #don’t let me #standard #anytime,” the 36-year-old posted as he was dropped off at Sydney airport.
After flying to Melbourne and preparing to sleep in a hotel, Indian High Commissioner to Australia Manpreet Vohra informed Khawaja, on Twitter, that his visa had finally been accepted.
‘Your visa is being issued and collected at this time. Have a wonderful tour and series,” Vohra wrote Wednesday night.
‘Greetings and best wishes from the High Commission and Consulate General of India.’
Khawaja boarded an early flight on Thursday morning and will join his teammates at a training camp in Bangalore ahead of the first test.