Usman Khawaja discusses Pakistani roots in emotional retirement statement

Veteran Australian national cricket team batsman Usman Khawaja has announced his retirement from international cricket, ending a 15-year career.

Usman Khawaja will play the 88th and final Test match of his career at the Sydney Cricket Ground and will retire after the conclusion of the fifth match of the Ashes 2025-26.

Usman Khawaja finally says goodbye

Khawaja’s retirement has been one of the major talking points in the ongoing Ashes series with several cricket pundits calling for his retirement even though the batter left no clues.

The veteran left-handed batsman became the center of attention in the first Test when he was unable to open due to a back spasm and then he missed the next Test as well.

Jake Weatherald sealed a place at number one as fly-half, and with the promotion of Travis Head, Khawaja’s role in the Australian team was significantly reduced.

Now he’s set for a traditional swansong in Sydney, and he could finish as Australia’s 14th leading run-getter in the red-ball format if he scores another 30 runs in his final match.

So far, Usman Khawaja has scored 6,206 runs in 157 innings at an average of 43.39, with 16 tons and 28 fifties.

I am a proud Muslim colored boy from Pakistan – Usman Khawaja

Addressing an emotional press conference on his retirement, Khawaja said he was a “proud Muslim colored boy of Pakistan”.

“I am a proud Muslim colored boy from Pakistan who was told he would never play for the Australian cricket team – look at me now,” Khawaja told a news conference that lasted almost an hour.

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I didn’t think I would get emotional but I cried straight away – Usman Khawaja

Khawaja further revealed that he spoke about his retirement to head coach Andrew McDonald and his teammates after the fourth Test in Melbourne.

“It’s been hard, I just wanted to tell everyone,” he said. I told my teammates at the time. I didn’t think I would get emotional, but I immediately cried and had to pull myself together. I finally calmed down and got out what I wanted to say.

“I never thought I would be the guy who would cry when he retired, but I cried straight away. It just shows what it means to me. My journey has been different to a lot of cricketers in the Australian cricket team. All that emotion has been building up.”

I just want to be remembered as a humble cricketer – Usman Khawaja

The veteran opener further said that he just wanted to be remembered as a humble cricketer, who managed to entertain everyone.

“I just want to be remembered as a humble cricketer who went out there and entertained himself, and (that) people enjoyed watching,” he said.

Although Khawaja has announced his retirement from international cricket, he will continue to play in the Big Bash League (BBL) for the Brisbane Heat and will also remain available for Queensland’s Sheffield Shield matches.

“Usman has made a huge contribution to Australian cricket both through his outstanding achievements as one of our most elegant and durable hitters since his Test debut 15 years ago, and off the field, notably through the Usman Khawaja Foundation. On behalf of Australian Cricket, I would like to thank and congratulate Usman for all that he has achieved,” Todd Greenberg, CEO of Cricket Australia, said in an official statement.