Khawaja retires: 'They told me I'd never play for Aus' — Pak-born batter calls out stereotypes
Usman Khawaja announced his retirement from international cricket, confirming the upcoming fifth Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground will be his last. The veteran left-hander, Australia's first Muslim Test cricketer, reflected on a journey of resilience and representation, overcoming early career setbacks to become a key player and advocate.
Usman Khawaja poses for a photo with his family after announcing his international cricket retirement. (Getty Images)
Usman Khawaja will walk out at the Sydney Cricket Ground one final time this week, bringing the curtain down on a 15-year international career that redefined what Australian cricket could look like — and who it could belong to.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The veteran left-hander confirmed on Friday that the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney will be his last in the Baggy Green, announcing his decision in an emotional press conference surrounded by his parents, wife Rachel and their two children. He informed his teammates only moments earlier, just before Australia's training session.
Next Travis Head? Meet Jerrssis Wadia, the Indian-Origin batter, who is taking over BBL
“I'm a proud Muslim coloured boy from Pakistan who was told he would never play for the Australian cricket team — look at me now,” Khawaja said, summing up a journey that has been as much about resilience and representation as runs and records.Born in Islamabad and raised in Sydney, Khawaja will retire in the city where he first watched Test cricket from the stands and later made both his first-class and Test debuts. Now 39, the oldest member of Australia's Test side, he bows out after 88 Tests, with the chance to overtake Michael Hussey's run tally and finish inside Australia's top 14 men's Test run-scorers.Khawaja told coach Andrew McDonald of his decision after the fourth Test in Melbourne, but admitted keeping the secret had been difficult.
Poll
How do you want Khawaja to be remembered after his retirement?
As a phenomenal batsmanAs a trailblazer for diversityAs a humble entertainerAll of the above
“It's been tough, I've just wanted to tell everyone,” he said. “I didn't think I'd get emotional, but I teared up straightaway. My journey has been different to a lot of cricketers… all that emotion built up.”That journey was rarely smooth. Despite a promising debut in the 2010–11 Ashes, Khawaja endured years of being dropped, recalled and dropped again — in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, England and at home — becoming, by some measures, Australia's most frequently discarded Test batter.
At one point, his average sat just above 25, and his Test future looked finished.Instead, Khawaja kept returning. His career-defining second act began at the SCG in the 2021–22 Ashes, where twin hundreds reignited his career. From that moment until now, no Australian has scored more Test runs. His nine-hour 141 against Pakistan in Dubai, twin tons at Sydney, and marathon innings at Edgbaston in 2023 stand as monuments to patience and defiance.Off the field, Khawaja's impact may be even greater. As Australia's first Muslim Test cricketer, he became a powerful, plain-spoken advocate against racism and for better pathways for players from migrant backgrounds.“I just want to be remembered as a humble cricketer who went out there and entertained,” Khawaja said. On a stage that once told him he didn't belong, Usman Khawaja will take his final bow — on his own terms.Usman Khawaja's international career stats (before farewell SCG Test):