Queensland Cricket appears set to part ways with Joe Dawes less than a year after spat with Usman Khawaja

Dawes, whose formal title is general manager of elite teams, performance, and pathways, could depart Queensland Cricket in the coming weeks having only taken up the role in late 2023.

Queensland Cricket declined to comment on Dawes future but this masthead understands he has suddenly taken leave and may not return.

The former Bulls pace star, 55, made headlines last March when he effectively accused veteran opener and former Queensland captain Khawaja of lying about an injury to opt out of a Sheffield Shield match to instead attend the F1 Grand Prix in Melbourne.

Khawaja insisted he was rehabbing a legitimate hamstring injury, and fronted an emotional press conference ahead of the Shield final in which he hit back at Dawes and QC board member Ian Healy.

The criticism of Dawes was particularly pointed given Dawes’ close relationship with then Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, of whom Khawaja had long been an outspoken critic.

“He’s best mates with Peter Dutton, and I’ve never seen Dutton give an apology in 20 years,” Khawaja said at the time when asked whether he was expecting an apology from Dawes over the issue. 

“I’m not going to expect it. This is not about an apology at all. In all seriousness, I’m just here getting all the facts out.”

Despite the feud, Khawaja remained in Queensland and with Brisbane Heat this summer, but has kept quiet on his relationship - or lack thereof - with Dawes since.

While the Bulls narrowly missed the one-day cup final, and remain in firm contention to make the Shield decider, there remains significant pressure too on coach Johan Botha, whose job also appears under threat.

Former South Africa captain Botha is in his second season as coach of both the Bulls and Brisbane Heat, who have missed the finals in consecutive summers after winning the title in 2023-24 under Wade Seccombe.

The Heat also endured a miserable Women’s Big Bash League campaign this season, finishing winless at the bottom of the table.

Sources have suggested that there have been communication issues around the state’s women’s program.

Dawes spent time working as a staffer under Dutton, and had also previously been India’s men’s bowling coach and head coach of the Papua New Guinea men’s team.