Usman Khawaja News: Khawaja Announces International Retirement, Levels Racism Allegations Against Australian Media

Australian cricket stalwart and opening batsman, Usman Khawaja, has officially announced his retirement from international cricket, putting an end to weeks of speculation surrounding his future. The announcement comes just before the fifth and final Ashes Test match against England, scheduled to commence on January 4th in Sydney. Khawaja made his decision public during a press conference in Sydney on January 2nd, marking the conclusion of his illustrious career at the very ground where it began in 2011 with an Ashes Test against England, while this holds significant emotional weight for Khawaja, as Sydney is his hometown, and he also started his first-class career there.

Retirement Coupled with Racism Allegations

In a surprising turn of events, alongside his retirement announcement, Usman Khawaja launched scathing accusations of racism against the Australian media and former cricketers, while he stated during the press conference that he has faced discrimination throughout his career, including during the recent Ashes series, due to being a 'black cricketer. ' Khawaja expressed feeling 'different in many ways' due to the way he was treated and how certain situations unfolded. He specifically highlighted an incident during the Perth Test where a back spasm prevented him from. Batting, and the subsequent media scrutiny and attacks from former cricketers, which he perceived as racially motivated.

The Perth Test Incident and Media Scrutiny

Khawaja elaborated on the incident during the first Test in Perth, where he suffered a back spasm while fielding, rendering him unable to bat in both innings. Prior to the match, Khawaja had been playing golf, which subsequently became a point of contention and criticism. He revealed that he was labeled 'lazy,' his preparations were questioned, and he was called 'selfish. ' Khawaja emphasized that numerous other players have sustained injuries while playing golf, yet they were never subjected to such intense scrutiny or targeted in the same manner. He asserted that this double standard has been a recurring theme throughout his career, exhibiting clear undertones of racism. He mentioned enduring the criticism for five consecutive days, stating it wasn't even about his performance.

Usman Khawaja's International Career Overview

At 39 years old, the Pakistani-born left-handed batsman has had an international career marked by both challenges and triumphs, consistently proving his talent and resilience. Before the Sydney Test, Khawaja had played 87 Test matches for Australia, scoring a total of 6206 runs at an average of 43 across 157 innings. His Test career boasts 16 magnificent centuries and 28 half-centuries, underscoring his consistency and ability to compile substantial scores in the longest format of the game. His patient batting style and temperament established him as a reliable opening batsman.

Contributions in ODI and T20 Cricket

Beyond Test cricket, Usman Khawaja also represented Australia in the limited-overs formats. In 40 One Day Internationals, he accumulated 1554 runs, including 2 centuries and. 12 half-centuries, playing several crucial innings and providing solid starts for the team. In 9 T20 Internationals, he scored 241 runs. While his T20 career wasn't as extensive as his Test and ODI stints, he demonstrated his capabilities in the shortest format as well. His career saw periods of being in and out of the national squad, but he consistently fought his way back, silencing critics with his performances.

Performance in the Current Ashes Series

In the ongoing Ashes series, which will be his last, Khawaja's performance has been mixed. He has scored 153 runs in 5 innings at an average of 30. 60, including one half-century. While not among his career-best performances, he made some valuable contributions, while the fluctuating nature of his performance during the series had fueled the retirement speculations, which have now been officially confirmed. The final Test in Sydney will provide him with an opportunity to conclude his distinguished career. On his home ground, although the allegations of racism have added a bitter note to his farewell.