Usman Khawaja: Pakistan-born Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja has announced his retirement from test cricket.
Khawaja made his debut in test cricket during the 2010-11 Ashes series against England at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Till date, he has scored 16 centuries and made 6,206 runs at a noteworthy average of 43.39 in 87 matches.
The Australian opener and now a lower-order batsman said the fifth Ashes test would be his last.
Usman Khawaja And Controversies
Khawaja was dropped from the Brisbane test in the ongoing Ashes series after suffering an injury while playing golf on the match eve. He went on to say that people just assume that Pakistani, coloured and West Indian players are too selfish and don’t care for the team or don’t train hard enough.
Khawaja pointed that many players have been injured in the past playing golf or some other sport but he was “selectively” picked up for negative comments. He also said that people start assuming that Usman Khawaja is playing the race card again even if he has some genuine issues on hand.
Khawaja went on to remark that hypocrisy, racism and Islamophobia are very much prevalent in Australian Cricket. He added that the next Usman Khawaja must not face all these challenges.
In an emotional 50-minute address to the press, Khawaja added he has been selectively targeted because of his honest and unbiased views on the Palestinian issue and right-wing politics. The cricketer also said he always felt being treated “differently” from others throughout his illustrious career.
Khawaja went on to add that his wife was extremely angry when she read about things said and written against him. He said it’s like facing the racial stereotypes that he has grown up with all his life. Khawaja also said he was told to “stay in his lane” as an athlete many times to his public support against Islamophobia and anti-immigration rhetoric in Australian politics.
