‘Look at me now:’ Usman Khawaja takes parting shot at ‘racial stereotyping’ as he announces retirement

Usman Khawaja will walk away from international cricket after the SCG Test, and has used his retirement press conference to make a passionate plea for unity while calling out media and ex-players for what he described as racial stereotyping.

This masthead confirmed Khawaja told his Australian teammates of his decision at the SCG on Friday morning, before he announced his exit at a press conference.

Khawaja had made peace with the fact it was time to go midway through this Ashes series.

Khawaja’s retirement ends months of speculation about his future, and means he will end his Test career where he started it at the SCG, not far from where his family first lived in Moore Park after migrating from Pakistan in 1991.

“Before this series I pretty much knew this was going to be my last and then the way everything’s gone has just solidified it in my head, and I’m very content with the decision and very happy and excited to move on,” Khawaja said.

“The number one emotion is contentment. I’m very lucky to have played so many games for Australia the way I have, and I’m in a place where this is not a shock. It’s been building for a while so it’s not like I’ve played one game and known I was done.”

Khawaja’s parents, Tariq and Fauzia, were with him at his retirement press conference, along with his wife, Rachel, and their daughters, Aisha and Ayla. Before he spoke to the media, Khawaja admitted he had struggled to keep his composure when telling the team.

“It’s been tough, I’ve just wanted to tell everyone,” he said. “I told teammates just then. I didn’t think I’d get emotional but I teared up straightaway and I had to compose myself. I finally composed myself and got out what I wanted to say.

“I never thought I’d be the guy that would cry when he retired but I cried straightaway. It just shows what it means to me. My journey has been different to a lot of cricketers in the Australian cricket team. All that emotion built up.”

Khawaja said he wanted anyone who felt they were different, as he often did, to know that they could achieve their dreams even if they were told they couldn’t.

“I’m a proud Muslim, coloured boy from Pakistan,” he said. “Look at me now.”

Khawaja said he felt criticism of him for playing golf before the Perth Test, where he couldn’t open the batting because of back spasms, resorted to “racial stereotypes”.

“I copped it for five days straight,” he said. “The way everyone came at me about my preparation was quite personal”, in that he felt media and ex-players insinuated that he was selfish or lazy. He felt other players would have been referred to as lads or larrikins.

“I thought we were past that,” he said.

Khawaja also took aim at politicians who promoted an anti-immigration agenda, and said he had become a target because he spoke up on social justice issues including his support of Palestinians in Gaza. “I get it, I put myself out there,” he said.

In the aftermath of the Bondi terror attack on a Hanukkah celebration, in which 15 people were killed last month, Khawaja called for tolerance and unity.

“I don’t care what religion, race, sexual orientation you are,” he said.

Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg, a friend and golf partner of Khawaja, said that the 39-year-old had made a beeline for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at Kirribilli House on New Year’s Day, and would leave a far bigger legacy than his cricket statistics.

“He always has a chat to the PM, he never misses the opportunity, and nor should he,” Greenberg said. “He’s a highly intelligent, articulate man, who believes strongly. He’s made cricket a better game.

“Cricket is a microcosm of broader society and we play our part in bringing people together, we’ve seen that over summer. Usman’s done a brilliant job to showcase to another generation that anything is possible, he’s showed people the way.

“And he had really difficult moments at the start of his life, he’s spoken to me at length about his childhood and the difficulties he faced. Lots of players leave great legacies, Usman leaves a legacy far deeper than his on-field contribution.”

Sydney is where Khawaja began his first-class career for NSW, and also where he made his Test comeback in January 2022 by making a century in each innings against England.

Before his return, Khawaja had played 44 Tests and made 2887 runs at 40.66 with eight centuries. Poetically, the SCG Test will be his 44th since returning, in which time he’s made 3319 more runs at 46.09 with another eight centuries.

Khawaja’s tally of 6206 Tests runs at 43.39 places him 15th on the all-time list for Australia, 29 runs shy of his friend and mentor Mike Hussey.

Arguably more significant is Khawaja’s role as a pathfinder for south Asian cricketers in Australia, something he will continue to champion in retirement via the Usman Khawaja Foundation.

It always appeared likely this summer would be Khawaja’s last for Australia, but there remained some room for doubt as selectors were still speaking with him about the possibility of stretching his career to one more tour of India in 2027.

However, after missing most of the Perth Test with back spasms and then not being fit to play in Brisbane, Khawaja was initially left out of the side for Adelaide in a sign that the order of preference was changing.

While Khawaja did ultimately play in Adelaide after Steve Smith withdrew with vestibular issues and then retained his spot in Melbourne, it had become clear to the 39-year-old that now was the right time to go.

“Looking at last year, going to Sri Lanka, playing the world Test championship, I knew this was a big series, how important experience is in big series,” he said.

“History has shown over time how hard it is for young players to come into the team and play big series like this against India or England. It just felt right.

“Then looking at the schedule, 20 Test matches in a very short timeframe, the first one starts in six-seven months, with my transition I thought it would be a great time for someone else to come in and play some of the lower scrutinised series, find their way in Test cricket then build up towards some big ones [in 2027].”

Though his international career is over, Khawaja will continue to play in the Big Bash League for the Brisbane Heat. He is also likely to feature as a commentator for Fox Cricket, and has previously expressed interest in cricket administration.

The SCG Test starts on Sunday. Australia lead the Ashes series 3-1.

News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.