Opening batter Usman Khawaja, 39, announced Friday he’ll retire from international cricket after his 88th Test—the SCG Ashes finale Sunday—hoping his journey motivates outsiders.
Debuting at the same ground in the 2010-11 Ashes closer, the Pakistan-born Sydney-raised star amassed 6,206 runs at 43.39, with 16 centuries.
Beyond stats, Khawaja championed diversity. “I hope I’ve shown kids who feel different, outsiders, or doubters that you can play for Australia,” he said at a presser. “Growing up, I heard it all—but seeing proves it. Keep pushing.”
“A proud Muslim, brown kid from Pakistan told he’d never wear the baggy green. Look at me. You can too.”
Dropped for the 2021-22 Ashes to Marnus Labuschagne, he surged back with twin Sydney centuries replacing COVID-hit Travis Head, then opened with David Warner (retired post-SCG two years ago).
In this Ashes, a Perth back injury sidelined him for Test two, then dropped for Adelaide—until Steve Smith’s vertigo recall. At No. 4, he scored 82 and 40 in Australia’s series-clinching 82-run win.
Khawaja called post-injury media fire—labeling him “selfish,” “lazy,” “uncommitted”—racial stereotyping. “Golf day before? No training? These tropes haunted my life. I want the next me treated equally, free of bias.”
