Usman Khawaja confirms retirement after Sydney Ashes Test, leaves legacy as Australia’s FIRST Muslim cricketer
Usman Khawaja, a Pakistan-born cricketer, leaves behind 15 years of cricketing legacy, 6,206 Test runs, and a pioneering role for future generations.
Usman Khawaja has announced that he will retire from international cricket after the fifth and final Ashes Test against England. The 39-year-old confirmed the decision on Friday, ending months of speculation about his future. If selected, the Sydney Test starting on Sunday will be his final appearance for Australia.
It would be Khawaja’s 88th Test match, fittingly at the Sydney Cricket Ground, where he made his Test debut back in 2011, also against England. Over a 15-year career, Khawaja leaves behind a significant legacy as Australia’s first Muslim Test cricketer.
Reflecting on his journey, Khawaja said he felt at peace with his decision.
“The number one emotion is contentment. I’m very lucky to have played so many games for Australia the way I have,” Khawaja said. “I hope I have inspired people along the way.
“I’m a proud Muslim coloured boy from Pakistan who was told that he would never play for the Australian cricket team. Look at me now, and you can do the same,” he added.
Breaking barriers as Australia’s first Muslim Test cricketer
Khawaja moved to Australia from Islamabad as a child and went on to beat the odds to become the country’s first Pakistan-born and first Muslim international cricketer. At one stage, he was the only Asian player in Australia’s first-class system and is widely seen as a role model who helped open doors for others.
Cricket Australia chief Todd Greenberg praised Khawaja’s contribution to the game.
“Usman has made a huge contribution to Australian cricket both through his outstanding achievements as one of our most stylish and resilient batters since his Test debut 15 years ago, and off field, particularly through the Usman Khawaja Foundation,” Greenberg said.
“On behalf of Australian cricket I would like to thank and congratulate Usman for all he has achieved.“
Khawaja’s foundation supports young people from refugee, immigrant, Indigenous and low socioeconomic backgrounds by providing access to cricket programs and educational assistance.
Career numbers and recent struggles
Khawaja has scored 6,206 runs in Test cricket, including 16 centuries, at an average of 43.39. His career-best knock was 232 against Sri Lanka last year, though he has not scored a century since.
The ongoing Ashes series has been challenging for the veteran batter. He injured his back during the first Test in Perth and was replaced as opener in the second innings by Travis Head, who went on to score a match-winning century.
Khawaja missed the Brisbane Test and was initially dropped for the third Test in Adelaide, before getting another chance when Steve Smith fell ill just before the toss. Batting at number four, he scored 82 and 40 in Adelaide, followed by scores of 29 and 0 in the fourth Test at Melbourne.
Khawaja admitted he was relieved to be finishing on his own terms.
“I’m glad I get to leave on amy own terms, with a little bit of dignity, and go out at the SCG where I love,” he said, while also expressing frustration over how he was treated during the series.
“When I did my back (in Perth), I hurt my back and had back spasms and it was something I couldn’t control. The way the media and past players came out and attacked me. I could have copped it for a couple of days but it went on for five days.
“The way everyone came out at me about my preparation, ‘he’s not committed to the team. Only worried about himself. Playing a golf competition. He’s selfish, he didn’t train hard enough. He’s lazy‘.”
“These are the same racial stereotypes (I thought we had moved past). But obviously we haven’t fully moved past that. I haven’t seen anyone treated like that in the Australian cricket team before.”
Writing on the wall during the Ashes series
Khawaja said the signs were clear during the Ashes that his time was coming to an end.
“Going into Adelaide and then not being picked initially for that game was probably a sign for me to say ‘all right, it’s time to move on’,” he said.
Apart from Tests, Khawaja also represented Australia in 40 one-day internationals and nine Twenty20 internationals.
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