- Khawaja to retire after fifth Ashes Check.
- Hopes to encourage children who’re “totally different.”
- Batter hits out at media remedy after current damage.
Star Aussie batter Usman Khawaja on Friday mentioned he hoped his lengthy Check profession, which is able to come to an finish together with his retirement after the fifth Ashes conflict, evokes children who’re “totally different” that enjoying cricket for Australia is feasible.
The highest order batsman, who turned 39 final month, introduced on Friday that he can be retiring from worldwide cricket after his 88th Check, which is able to begin at Sydney Cricket Floor on Sunday.
Khawaja made his Check debut on the similar floor within the closing match of the 2010-11 Ashes collection and has since scored 6,206 runs at a median of 43.39, together with 16 centuries.
Greater than his runs, nonetheless, Khawaja was a standard-bearer for range in Australian cricket, given he was born in Pakistan earlier than being raised in Sydney from the age of 5.
“I hope I’ve impressed many youngsters alongside the way in which, notably those that really feel that they’re totally different, those that really feel that they do not belong, or these others inform that they may by no means make it,” Khawaja informed reporters at a press convention.
“I felt all these items rising up and attempting to be an Australian cricketer, however seeing is believing. And I am right here to let you know that you are able to do no matter you need. Simply received to maintain attempting.
“I am a proud Muslim, colored boy from Pakistan who was informed that he would by no means play for the Australian cricket workforce. Have a look at me now. You are able to do the identical.”
Khawaja batted for many of his Check profession on the prime of the center order however misplaced his spot within the aspect for the 2021-22 Ashes collection to Marnus Labuschagne.
He was, nonetheless, known as up on the final minute when Travis Head contracted COVID forward of the Sydney Check and revived his profession with centuries in each innings.
Opening with Warner
After that, Khawaja moved as much as type a profitable opening partnership with David Warner, who retired from Check cricket after the SCG Check two years in the past.
On this Ashes collection, he injured his again within the opener in Perth and missed the second Check earlier than initially being dropped from the workforce for the third in Adelaide.
He was once more recalled on the eleventh hour after Steve Smith suffered a bout of vertigo and, batting at quantity 4 relatively than opening, scored 82 and 40 as Australia received by 82 runs to clinch the collection and retain the urn.
Khawaja mentioned his remedy by the media after the again damage in Perth was proof that he was nonetheless handled otherwise from different gamers due to his background.
“The best way the media and the previous gamers got here out and attacked me … I copped it for about 5 days straight,” he recalled.
“It was fairly private when it comes to issues like, ‘he isn’t dedicated to the workforce. He was solely anxious about himself. He performed this golf comp the day earlier than.
“He is egocentric. He does not practice onerous sufficient. He did not practice the day earlier than the sport. He is lazy. These are the identical racial stereotypes I’ve grown up with my entire life.
“I simply need the journey for the subsequent Usman Khawaja to be totally different,” he added. “I would like you to deal with him the identical, not have racial stereotypes of who they may be.”
