Veteran Australian batsman Usman Khawaja has used his international retirement announcement to deliver a powerful critique of racial inequality within the sport, stating cricket in the country remains "still very white".
A Fiery Farewell at the SCG
The 39-year-old, who is Australia's first Muslim Test cricketer, spoke for over 45 minutes at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday morning. He declared he was now "off the leash" as he prepared for his final match in the fifth Ashes Test in his hometown, ending a 15-year career in the Baggy Green.
Khawaja, born in Pakistan, outlined a career where he consistently felt treated differently. He pointed to the recent reaction to a back injury he sustained in the Ashes series opener as a prime example of unfair treatment rooted in racial stereotypes.
Injury Reaction Highlights Double Standards
"When I did my back, I had back spasms, it was something I couldn't control," Khawaja explained. "The way the media and the past players came out and attacked me… I copped it for about five days straight."
He argued that the criticism quickly descended into prejudiced tropes. "Once the racial stereotypes came in, of me being lazy, it was things I’ve dealt with my whole life," he said. "Pakistani, West Indian, coloured players… we’re selfish, we only care about ourselves, we don’t care about the team, we don’t train hard enough."
Khawaja contrasted this with the treatment of other players, stating: "I can give you even more guys who have had 15 schooners the night before, then got injured, and no one’s said a word. That’s alright, they’re just being Aussie larrikins."
Hoping to Pave an Easier Path
With over 6,000 Test runs and 16 centuries from 87 appearances, Khawaja acknowledged his comments might be controversial but said he was driven by a desire for change. He expressed hope that his words would make the journey easier for future players from diverse backgrounds.
"I’m hoping the journey for the next Usman Khawaja is a bit easier," he stated. His aim is a future where a player like him is viewed no differently than a "John Smith."
While acknowledging society has become more inclusive, Khawaja concluded that significant progress is still needed, bluntly summarising the state of the game: "Australian cricket is still very white in a lot of respects." His final act in Sydney promises to be as memorable for his candid words as for his batting.
