Australian cricket stalwart Usman Khawaja has revealed he will conclude his international career following the fifth Ashes Test at Sydney Cricket Ground, commencing this Sunday. The 39-year-old opener, who made history as Australia’s first Muslim cricketer, utilized his retirement announcement to deliver a powerful critique of the racial prejudice he encountered throughout his professional journey.
Khawaja’s final appearance will mark his 88th Test match, appropriately staged at the same venue where he launched his first-class career. The Sydney Cricket Ground holds particular significance for the batsman, serving as the site where he notched his maiden Ashes century with 171 runs against England in 2018. Remarkably, the same ground witnessed his spectacular career resurgence at age 35, where twin centuries against England ignited one of cricket’s most impressive late-career revivals—yielding seven centuries over the subsequent two years.
Despite his accomplishments, Khawaja faced intense scrutiny this season after back spasms prevented him from opening in Perth’s first Ashes Test and subsequently sidelined him for the Brisbane match. His position became uncertain until Steve Smith’s vertigo created an opportunity for his return in Adelaide, where his 82-run first innings performance secured his place for Melbourne’s fourth Test. Australia enters the final match holding a 3-1 series lead, having already retained the Ashes.
During a Sydney press conference, Khawaja articulated the differential treatment he experienced due to his Pakistani heritage and Muslim faith. He recounted facing relentless media and former player criticism for five consecutive days regarding his injury, noting how racial stereotypes emerged depicting him as ‘lazy.’ The cricketer highlighted the double standard in coverage, contrasting the silence when white Australian players engaged in similar pre-match activities with the condemnation he received for golfing twice before the Perth match.
Khawaja reflected that he anticipated this series would conclude his career, expressing satisfaction at departing on his own terms. His statistical legacy includes 6,206 runs at a 43.49 average across 87 Tests, featuring 16 centuries and 28 half-centuries. Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg praised Khawaja’s dual contributions—both as one of Australia’s most elegant and determined opening batters (including ICC Test Cricketer of the Year honors) and through his off-field work with the Usman Khawaja Foundation. The retiring cricketer identified ‘contentment’ as his predominant emotion, hoping his journey has inspired others throughout his groundbreaking career.