He certainly made his voice heard.
The Pakistan-born Khawaja, the first Muslim to represent Australia, took the opportunity of his retirement announcement on Friday to address the “racial” stereotyping he faced throughout his career.
This will mark the 39-year-old Khawaja’s 88th and final test — played at the venue where he kicked off his first-class journey. He recorded his inaugural Ashes century at the SCG, scoring 171 against England in 2018.
It was also at the SCG that he rejuvenated his career at 35, achieving two centuries against England. This revival led to an impressive late-career phase, with Khawaja notching up seven centuries in the subsequent two years back with the team.
However, Khawaja’s position drew scrutiny and backlash this season after he struggled to open in the first Ashes test in Perth due to back spasms and subsequently missed the Brisbane test due to the injury.
Initially omitted in Adelaide, Khawaja reclaimed his spot after Steve Smith’s vertigo allowed him to return, where he scored 82 in the first innings and secured his position for the fourth test in Melbourne. With a 3-1 lead heading into the fifth test, Australia has retained the Ashes.
Khawaja mentioned he felt he was treated “a bit differently, even now,” due to his Pakistani and Muslim heritage.
“Different in the way I’ve been treated, different in how things have unfolded,” he stated at a media conference in Sydney. “I had back spasms, something beyond my control. The media and former players’ reactions…I faced it relentlessly for about five days. Everyone seemed to pile on.
“Once the racial stereotypes emerged, labeling me as lazy, it’s been something I’ve confronted my entire life. Pakistani, West Indian, players of color…we’re selfish, we only care about ourselves, we don’t focus on the team, we don’t train hard enough.”
Khawaja faced criticism in the lead-up to the Perth match for playing golf twice instead of participating in an optional training session. Some commentators speculated that golf might have contributed to his back issues.
“I can mention countless players who’ve played golf the day before a match and suffered injuries, yet no one raised a word,” Khawaja informed the gathered media.
“I can cite even more instances of players who had 15 schooners (large glasses of beer) the night before a game and were injured, but no one spoke up because they were just seen as ‘Aussie larrikins,’ just being lads. Yet, when I get injured, my credibility and character come under attack.
Khawaja recognized the end of his career was approaching.
“Going into this series, I had a sense this would be my last,” he acknowledged. “I’m grateful to exit on my own terms.”
Khawaja has accumulated 6,206 runs at an average of 43.49 across his 87 tests, with 16 centuries and 28 half-centuries.
“Usman has made a significant impact on Australian cricket through his remarkable achievements as one of our most elegant and resilient batters… and off the field, mainly through the Usman Khawaja Foundation,” Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg stated.
“Usman has been one of Australia’s most dependable opening batters, and his success was recognized when he was named ICC test cricketer of the year during the same season Australia won the World Test Championship (in 2023).”
Khawaja expressed that his primary emotion upon announcing his retirement was “contentment.”
“I feel very fortunate to have played so many matches for Australia,” Khawaja noted. “I hope I have inspired people along the way.”
First Published: Jan 2, 2026 4:34 PM IST
