'I'm a proud Muslim...': Usman Khawaja exposes unreal Racism in Australia during Retirement Addressal

Add as a preferred source on Google

In a fiery and unfiltered press conference, Usman Khawaja announced his retirement from international cricket after the fifth Ashes Test at the SCG, using the platform to unleash explosive quotes on the racial stereotyping and discrimination he faced throughout his career.

The 39-year-old, visibly emotional yet resolute, did not hold back in addressing what he described as persistent biases in Australian cricket and media.

Khawaja, who has scored 6,206 Test runs in 87 matches at an average of 43.39, including 16 centuries, confirmed the Sydney Test, where he debuted in 2011-would be his last.

But the announcement quickly turned into a candid reckoning with the challenges of being Australia's first Muslim Test cricketer.

"I've always felt a little bit different, even to now. I'm a coloured cricketer. The Australian cricket team is our pride and joy, but I've felt different in the way I've been treated and the way things have happened. I know why I get nailed a lot of the time, and I understand that talking about issues outside cricket leaves me exposed," Khawaja stated bluntly.

He targeted media and former players' criticism following a recent back injury, which forced him to miss a Test.

"I had back spasms, something I couldn't control. But the way the media and past players came at me wasn't about performance. It became personal. It was about my preparation, my commitment, who I am as a person. Those are the same racial stereotypes I've grown up with my whole life, and I thought we'd moved past that," he added.

Khawaja elaborated on the double standards which he endured during his career, compared to his Australian counterparts.

"[Comments] like, 'he's not committed to the team. He was only worried about himself. He played this golf comp the day before. He's selfish. He doesn't train hard enough. He didn't train the day before the game. He's lazy.' These are the same stereotypes, the racial stereotypes I've grown up with my whole life ... That was the thing that disappointed me the most, because I thought we were past that. But there's still a little bit out there, which I still have to fight every single day, which is the frustrating thing for me," he continued.

He contrasted his treatment with that of teammates: "Normally when someone gets injured, you feel sorry for them. 'Poor Josh Hazlewood' or 'poor Nathan Lyon.' When I got injured, everyone went at my credibility. That was the thing I was most sad about. That's something I've been dealing with for a long time."

"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, who advocated against racism and for South Asian pathways in cricket, will retire with over 8,000 international runs across formats. His farewell comes as Australia leads the Ashes 3-1, with the final Test starting this weekend.