Usman Khawaja has announced his retirement from international cricket, confirming that the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney will be his last. The 39-year-old batsman, who has been a central figure in the Ashes series, called time on his career while also addressing the racism he faced throughout his playing days.
Speaking at a press conference, Khawaja said: 'God through cricket has given me far more than I could have imagined. He's given me memories I'll carry forever, friendship that goes well beyond the game, and lessons that shaped me, who I am, off the field.' He thanked his parents for their sacrifices, noting that they moved from Pakistan to Sydney when he was a child.
Khawaja criticised the racial stereotyping he experienced in the media, particularly during the Ashes. He said comments about his commitment and work ethic were rooted in stereotypes he has faced his whole life. 'That was the thing that disappointed me the most, because I thought we were past that,' he added.
The SCG holds special significance for Khawaja, as it was where he made his Test debut in the 2010-11 Ashes and scored his first Ashes century in 2018. It was also the venue for his remarkable comeback in 2022, when he scored twin centuries against England at the age of 35, sparking a late-career revival that yielded seven centuries in his first two years back in the side.
Khawaja retires with 87 Test matches, 6,206 runs at an average of 43.39, including 16 centuries and 28 half-centuries. He becomes only the second Australian Test player in the past decade to retire while still in the team, following David Warner's exit two summers ago. He leaves the game with a message for those who feel they do not belong: 'I'm a proud Muslim, coloured boy from Pakistan who was told that he would never play for the Australian cricket team. Look at me now. And you can do the same.'
