Australia National Cricket Team’s experienced opening batsman Usman Khawaja has announced his retirement from international cricket, ending his 15-year long career.
Usman Khawaja will play the 88th and last Test match of his career at the Sydney Cricket Ground and will retire after the end of the fifth match of Ashes 2025-26.
Usman Khawaja finally said goodbye
Khawaja’s retirement has been one of the biggest talking points in the ongoing Ashes series as many cricket experts had called for his retirement despite the batsman not giving any hint.
The experienced left-handed batsman became the center of attention during the first Test when he was unable to open due to back spasms and then missed the next Test as well.
With Jake Weatherald cementing a place at the top of the order as an opening batsman and Travis Head being promoted, Khawaja’s role in the Australian team was significantly reduced.
Now, he is set for the traditional Sydney swansong, and if he scores 30 more runs in his final game, he could finish as Australia’s 14th-highest run-scorer in the red-ball format.
Usman Khawaja has so far scored 6206 runs in 157 innings at an average of 43.39, which includes 16 centuries and 28 half-centuries.
I am a proud Muslim boy from Pakistan – Usman Khawaja
Addressing an emotional retirement press conference, Khawaja said that he is “a proud Muslim boy of Pakistan”.
“I’m a proud Muslim boy from Pakistan who was told he would never play for the Australian cricket team – look at me now,” Khawaja said during an hour-long press conference.
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Many more to follow..