Sydney: Australian Test cricketer Usman Khawaja has announced his retirement from international cricket, opening up about the racial discrimination he faced from former teammates and media during his career.
Speaking during his retirement announcement, Khawaja said,
“I have always felt different within the Australian team, even until now. It was because of my background.”
He expressed pride in the Australian cricket team but admitted that his journey was often challenging due to unequal treatment.
Khawaja shared that despite his love for the team, he faced verbal attacks and biased behavior from certain players and media members.
“I could handle two days of criticism, but I endured it for almost five days,” he revealed.
The 39-year-old will play his 88th and final Test match in Sydney, the same ground where he made his Test debut against England 15 years ago. Khawaja’s decision to retire marks the end of a distinguished career while also highlighting ongoing discussions around diversity and inclusion in Australian cricket.