Usman Khawaja to Retire After New Year’s Test, Confirms in Emotional Speech

Usman Khawaja, Australia's first Muslim Test cricket player, said on Friday that he would retire from international cricket following the fifth and final Ashes match against England. Khawaja also aimed at what he called "racial stereotyping" during his 15-year career. When the Test begins in Sydney on Sunday, the 39-year-old will prepare for the final time, if he is chosen, putting an end to months of conjecture on his future. The elegant left-hander's 88th Test match would mark the end of a career that started when he made his debut against England at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 2011.

At the age of five, Khawaja, born in Islamabad, Pakistan, moved to Australia, a nation also obsessed with cricket. Since then, he has dedicated his entire life to playing cricket for Australia, regardless of the level. Three years after making his First-Class debut in 2008, he went on to play for the senior team, having begun his career with New South Wales. It was only normal for him to have strong feelings when making the choice.

Usman Khawaja announces retirement:

Talking to the media, Khawaja said, "It's been tough, I've just wanted to tell everyone. 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 who would cry when he retired, but I cried straightaway. It just shows what it means to me."

He further added, "My journey has been different to a lot of cricketers in the Australian cricket team. All that emotion built up. I just want to be remembered as a humble cricketer who went out there and entertained, and (that) people enjoyed watching."

Although Khawaja played for Australia in all three of the game's formats, it was as a red-ball cricketer that his real comeback was revealed. He has amassed almost 6000 runs in Test matches and has scored 16 hundreds at an average of over 43. He wouldn't mind hitting 17 hundreds and starting his second innings with a pleasant ending because this is his final game.

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