New Delhi: Australia’s Usman Khawaja announced his retirement from international cricket. He will play his final Test match against England at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). The batter informed his teammates about his decision on Friday morning, ending a great Test career that started in 2011.
He held a 50-minute press conference at the SCG on Friday to announce his retirement and said that the backlash he faced at the start of the Ashes series for the back injury he suffered had racial undertones. Khawaja further added that he had been frustrated and hurt at being treated differently from other Australian players during his entire career.
Khawaja was born in Pakistan and was the first Muslim cricketer to play a Test cricket for Australia, and said that he felt different in a lot of respects.
“I had back spasms, and that’s something I couldn’t control. But the way the media and the past players came out and attacked me, I could have copped it for two days, but I copped it for about five days straight. And it wasn’t even about my performances,” Khawaja said in the press conference.
‘Never seen anyone being treated like that in the Australian cricket team before’
Khawaja said that what the media and former cricketers said was very personal; it was about his preparation. The batter further added that everyone criticised his preparations, saying things like he’s not committed to the team. He further added that these are the same stereotypes, the racial stereotypes he had grown up with his whole life.
Khawaja also said that he just thought that the media and former cricketers had moved past it, but they weren’t completely, as he had never seen anyone being treated like that in the Australian cricket team before.
“You guys had a crack at me for missing a game, yet plenty of my team-mates, who were not playing, you didn’t say a word to them. So for me, I’ve been dealing with this stuff a long time. And for me, I know I’m up here talking about topics and people are like, okay, Uzzy’s here, he’s playing the race card again, but don’t gaslight me,” Khawaja added.
Several Australian cricketers have suffered golf-related injuries in the past. Josh Inglis was sidelined from the 2022 T20 World Cup after cutting his hand on the golf course, and all-rounder Glenn Maxwell also missed an ODI match during the 2023 World Cup after suffering a concussion when falling off the back of a golf cart.
“I can give you countless number of guys who play golf the day before and have been injured. No one else said a thing. I can give you even more, probably guys who’ve had 15 schooners the night before and then got injured. No one said a word. That’s all right. But when I get injured, everyone went at my credibility and who I am as a person,” Khawaja added.
Khawaja played a crucial role in Australia’s 2023 World Test Championship triumph and was named ICC Test cricketer of the year, and Shane Warne Test Cricketer of the Year.