Tonight on Australian Story, Usman Khawaja reflects on the challenges and comebacks that shaped his career as one of Australian cricket’s most recognisable players.
The episode explores his experiences with racism, his efforts to improve diversity in professional cricket and the foundation he established to give children greater opportunities to chase their dreams.
Coming up tonight:
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In 2011, Usman Khawaja became the first Muslim cricketer to wear the baggy green.
“I wasn’t your typical Australian cricketer, get in your face, sledge the crap out of them,” Khawaja tells Australian Story.
“I didn’t drink alcohol. I prayed.”
The batsman’s journey to the top of Australian cricket was never easy.
“The way Uzzy’s career’s panned out, it’s so unique,” says friend and fellow cricketer David Warner.
“Eight times being dropped. The knockdowns, the comebacks … incredible resilience.”
Despite a sense of not belonging, Khawaja carved his own path, playing 88 Test matches and scoring more than 6,000 runs.
But it’s always been about more than cricket. He’s spoken out against racism, the lack of diversity in professional cricket and has set up a foundation to give all children the chance to chase their dreams.
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“He’s broken the mould in so many different ways,” says Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg.
“He’ll leave the culture of Australian cricket in far better shape than what he found it.”
Featuring interviews with Usman’s parents, wife Rachel and cricketers David Warner and Michael Hussey, Unbeaten is the remarkable story of an immigrant who made it to the top on his own terms.
Australian Story: Unbeaten: Usman Khawaja airs tonight, Monday 26 October at 8pm on ABC and ABC iview.
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