Australian opener Usman Khawaja has announced his retirement from international cricket after the final Test against England. He also opened up about racism and unequal treatment he faced throughout his international career.
During a 50-minute press conference at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Khawaja said the criticism he received during the Ashes for a back injury was not just harsh, but deeply disheartening.
Speaking to the media in the presence of his family, Khawaja said, “I’ve always felt a little bit different, even to now. I’m a coloured cricketer. The Australian cricket team is, in my opinion … that’s our best team. It’s our pride and joy. But I’vealso felt very different in a lot of respects, different by the way I’ve been treated, different for how things have happened.”
Khawaja was born in Pakistan and became the first Muslim to play Test cricket for Australia.
He explained that the backlash he faced after suffering back spasms early in the Ashes went beyond cricketing performance. “I had back spasms, and that’s something I couldn’t control. But the way the media and the past players came out and attacked me, I could have copped it for two days, but I copped it for about five days straight. And it wasn’teven about my performances,” he said.
“These are the same stereotypes, the racial stereotypes I’ve grown up with my whole life,” Khawaja added.
Khawaja pointed out that similar incidents had occurred in the past with other players. “I can give you countless number of guys who play golf the day before and have been injured. You guys haven’t said a thing… But when I get injured, everyone went at my credibility and who I am as a person,” Khawaja said.
Despite knowing that some would accuse him of playing the ‘race card’, Khawaja said he spoke up for change. “Don’t gaslight me,” he said. “I just want the journey for the next Usman Khawaja to be different. I want you to treat him or her all the same, not have racial stereotypes of who they might be. Treat them with the same cloak that you would treat any of my wholesome other cricketers that I play with.”
Also Read: Usman Khawaja set for emotional farewell at the SCG
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