Veteran Australia batter Usman Khawaja has introduced he’ll retire from worldwide cricket after the upcoming fifth Ashes check on the Sydney Cricket Floor. The Pakistan-born cricketer mentioned he hoped his lengthy check profession is an inspiration for kids to have a “totally different” trajectory and for them to know that taking part in cricket for Australia is attainable.
The top order batsman, who turned 39 last month, announced on Friday (January 2, 2026) that he could be retiring from worldwide cricket after his 88th check, which is able to begin on Sunday (January 4, 2026).
Khawaja made his check debut on the similar floor within the last match of the 2010-11 Ashes collection and has since scored 6,206 runs at a median of 43.39, together with 16 centuries.
On the press convention he mentioned, “I simply need the journey for the following Usman Khawaja to be totally different. I would like you to deal with him the identical, not have racial stereotypes of who they may be.”
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AP
Pakistani born Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja introduced his retirement on January 2, 2026. He mentioned he’ll retire from Checks after the final Ashes Check in Sydney on January 4, 2026.
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AP
Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja together with his spouse Rachel and daughters Aisha and Ayla after asserting that he’ll retire from worldwide cricket following the fifth and last Ashes cricket check towards England in Sydney, on January 2, 2026.
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AP
Usman Khawaja grew to become the primary Muslim and first Pakistani-born Australian participant to play Check cricket for Australia, and solely the seventh foreign-born cricketer to take action within the final 80 years.
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Reuters
Usman 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, nevertheless, referred to 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. After that, Khawaja moved as much as kind a profitable opening partnership with David Warner, who retired from Check cricket after the SCG check two years in the past.
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Reuters
Usman Khawaja made his check debut in Sydney within the last match of the 2010-11 Ashes collection and has since scored 6,206 runs at a median of 43.39, together with 16 centuries.
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Reuters
Greater than his runs, Usman Khawaja was a standard-bearer for variety 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 kids alongside the best way, significantly those that really feel that they’re totally different, those that really feel that they don’t belong, or these others inform that they may by no means make it,” Khawaja instructed 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’m right here to let you know that you are able to do no matter you need. Simply acquired to maintain attempting.
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AP
Australia’s Usman Khawaja signal autograph to followers after they received the third Ashes cricket check match towards England in Adelaide on December 21, 2025. Usman Khawaja mentioned “I’m a proud Muslim colored boy from Pakistan who was instructed that he would by no means play for the Australian cricket crew. Have a look at me now. You are able to do the identical.”
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AP
Usman Khawaja mentioned his therapy by the media after the again damage in Perth was proof that he was nonetheless handled otherwise to different gamers due to his background. “The way in which 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’s not dedicated to the crew. He was solely nervous about himself. He performed this golf comp the day earlier than.
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Reuters
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 crew 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 reasonably than opening, scored 82 and 40 as Australia received by 82 runs to clinch the collection and retain the urn.
Revealed – January 02, 2026 10:21 am IST
