Healy clips Khawaja's 'pick and choose mentality' and reveals call to Cricket Australia

Queensland legend Ian Healy wants Cricket Australia to "feel the heat" after Test batter Usman Khawaja mysteriously snubbed a Sheffield Shield game.

And the former Aussie wicketkeeper has taken a crack at Khawaja himself for a "pick and choose mentality" that has put his state allegiance in doubt.

The Bulls qualified for the Shield final thanks to a draw against table toppers South Australia - as well as other results falling their way - this week.

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Khawaja was a late omission from the team sheet and initially cited hamstring issues.

But he was spotted at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on Sunday as his Queensland teammates were starting their match against South Australia, the result of which would determine whether they qualified for the tournament final.

According to Queensland cricket boss Joe Dawes, the Bulls and Cricket Australia were not aware that the 38-year-old was dealing with injury concerns.

Dawes labelled Khawaja's absence as "disappointing" considering he appeared to not want to play in the final game of the regular season, before declaring he has "a bunch of blokes" eager to step up and fill the role.

"Our medical staff said all the way through he has been available for selection," Dawes said on Wednesday.

"That is my understanding from Cricket Australia staff as well - no hamstring issues as far as we are concerned.

"I go off our medical staff and there is no reason why he could not have played the last game.

"It's just disappointing he didn't play a game for Queensland when he had an opportunity to. I have got a bunch of blokes here that all want to play.

"I think we are disappointed he did not play the game against South Australia. That's the decision he made, and he has communicated some of the reasons for that in the public.

"Hopefully he will make that decision to make himself available for next week and we will make that decision on Friday."

Healy is the deputy chair of Queensland cricket.

He used his radio show on SEN on Thursday morning to take aim at Khawaja and at Cricket Australia.

"What we shouldn't forget is when Usman makes a team and (is) in a game he is 100 per cent in," Healy said.

"When he gets into the environment he is fine. It's just this pick and choose mentality that has been evident in his later years that Queensland haven't been happy with.

"I'm glad I didn't have my television on (to see him at the F1).

"Cricket Australia should feel a little under the pump with this... I spoke with them, and they weren't aware of Queensland's concerns with him not playing for Queensland, they wish we would have rung them earlier.

"It was the last round of the Sheffield Shield to get into the final… I wanted Cricket Australia to feel a little bit of heat for allowing that to happen."

Healy also had a pop at the situation on Wednesday.

"The board should be aghast that Usman Khawaja has chosen not to play the last round of the Sheffield Shield competition to get his state into the final," he said.

"To Cricket Australia – your contracted player doesn't play your long-standing competition. Our cricket needs to be built on integrity, skill and ticker, not absence."

It remains unclear if Khawaja will return to the side for the final on March 26.

According to sources who spoke to The Sydney Morning Herald on the condition of anonymity, Khawaja was deemed unlikely to return to the Shield tournament following Australia's tour of Sri Lanka.

Khawaja's Australian teammates Nathan Lyon, Travis Head, Steve Smith and Pat Cummins have not featured in the tournament since the Sri Lanka tour, but with Queensland needing a win in Hobart to remain in the race for the final, Khawaja opted to return.