New Delhi: Australian cricket legend Usman Khawaja has announced his retirement from international cricket. The Pakistan-born batsman said he will bid farewell to Test cricket after the upcoming fifth and final Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The 39-year-old described his decision not just as the end of a career, but as a message to the next generation that playing cricket for Australia is possible for players from all backgrounds.
Usman Khawaja began his Test career in Sydney during the 2010–11 Ashes series. Now, he will play his 88th and final Test at the same ground. In his long career, Khawaja scored 6,206 runs, including 16 centuries, at an average of 43.39. His career has been a testament to consistency and perseverance.
Khawaja became the first Muslim and Pakistan-born player to play Test cricket for Australia. He is among the few foreign-born players to represent the Australian Test team in the last 80 years. He said he wants future players not to be afraid to take a “different” path like him and to be judged on their merit, not on their identity or any preconceived notions.
Khawaja’s career has been full of ups and downs. He was dropped from the team during the 2021–22 Ashes series but got a sudden opportunity after Travis Head tested positive for COVID-19. He made a spectacular comeback, scoring centuries in both innings of the Sydney Test. Following this, his opening partnership with David Warner proved highly successful, leading Australia to several crucial victories.
More than his runs, Khawaja has become known as a symbol of diversity. He openly spoke about being treated differently by the media and former players on several occasions. Despite this, he conveyed a message to young people that if they believe in themselves and persevere, no dream is impossible. “I am a proud Muslim, born in Pakistan, and today I have played for Australia,” his statement became an inspiration for many young people.
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