Veteran Australia batter Usman Khawaja has announced he will retire from international cricket after the upcoming fifth Ashes test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The Pakistan-born cricketer said he hoped his long test career is an inspiration for youngsters to have a “different” trajectory and for them to know that playing cricket for Australia is possible.
The top order batsman, who turned 39 last month, announced on Friday (January 2, 2026) that he would be retiring from international cricket after his 88th test, which will start on Sunday (January 4, 2026).
Khawaja made his test debut at the same ground in the final match of the 2010-11 Ashes series and has since scored 6,206 runs at an average of 43.39, including 16 centuries.
At the press conference he said, “I just want the journey for the next Usman Khawaja to be different. I want you to treat him the same, not have racial stereotypes of who they might be.”
“When I did my back, I had back spasms, it was something I couldn’t control. The way the media and the past players came out and attacked me. I copped it for about five days straight. Everyone was piling in. Once the racial stereotypes came in, of me being lazy, it was things I’ve dealt with my whole life. Pakistani, West Indian, and coloured players. We’re selfish, we only care about ourselves, we don’t care about the team, we don’t train hard enough,” Khawaja told reporters.
“I just thought the media and old players and everyone else had moved past them, but we obviously haven’t moved past them. All these things came back and made me realise we’re not quite there. I can give you a countless number of guys who have played golf the day before and been injured, and you guys (media) haven’t said a thing. I can give you even more guys who have had 15 schooners (beer) the night before, then got injured, and no one’s said a word. That’s alright, they’re just being Aussie larrikins, just being lads,” he added.
