Australia’s first Pakistani Muslim cricketer, Usman Khawaja, has announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing an end to a notable 15-year career.
Khawaja confirmed that he will retire after the fifth and final Ashes Test against England, scheduled to begin on 4 January at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The match will be his 88th Test appearance for Australia.
Speaking at a press conference in Sydney, the 39-year-old reflected on his long career but also spoke openly about what he described as unfair treatment from some former players and sections of the media.
He said he was deeply disappointed by commentary that moved beyond cricket analysis and became personal, particularly criticism related to his preparation and fitness.
Khawaja recalled that after suffering back spasms before the first Ashes Test in Perth, the focus shifted away from his performance to questions about his character and commitment.
Despite the criticism, Khawaja expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent Australia across so many matches. Born in Pakistan, he said he is a proud Muslim and described his journey as an example for others.
According to Cricket Australia, Khawaja has also built a strong legacy off the field through the Usman Khawaja Foundation.
In 2023, he was named ICC Test Cricketer of the Year and received the Shane Warne Test Cricketer of the Year award. He was also part of the Australian team that won the ICC World Test Championship that year.
Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg praised Khawaja’s outstanding contribution to Australian cricket, highlighting both his accomplished batting career and his positive impact through his foundation.
Khawaja made his Test debut in 2011 and scored more than 6,200 runs, including 16 centuries. He has played 87 Test matches, 40 One-Day Internationals, and 9 T20 Internationals for Australia.
