New Delhi. Australia’s star opener Usman Khawaja has announced his retirement from international cricket. He made this announcement through a press conference on Friday, during which his family was also present there. He told that the 5th Ashes match against England in Sydney is going to be the last match of his career. Khawaja informed his teammates about his decision on Friday itself. While announcing his retirement, Khawaja also talked about the racism he faced throughout his career. Let us tell you, Australia has made an unassailable lead in this 5-match Test series and is leading 3-1.

Usman Khawaja said, “God has given me more than I ever imagined through cricket. He has given me memories that I will always carry with me, friendships that go beyond the game, and lessons that have made me who I am today, off the field. But no career is just about one person. Obviously, I got a lot of help. To my parents, who are sitting there, thank you for your sacrifices that never made it into the highlights reel.”

During this, Usman Khawaja talked about his preparation for the Ashes and the racial stereotyping he faced regarding his back problems. “Comments like, ‘He’s not committed to the team.’ He’s just thinking about himself. He played a golf competition the day before. He’s selfish. He doesn’t train hard enough. He didn’t train the day before the match. He’s lazy,” he said. These are the same stereotypes, the same racial stereotypes that I’ve grown up with my whole life… That’s what frustrates me the most, because I thought we had moved past it. But there’s still a little bit that I have to fight every day, which is very frustrating for me.”

Usman Khawaja made his Test debut for Australia in 2011. The last Test he will play against England in Sydney will be the 88th match of his career. Khawaja was also a part of Australia’s 2023 WTC champion team. He has left a strong legacy off the field, being the first Pakistan-born cricketer to play for Australia and the first Muslim cricketer to represent the country. He has also played 49 ODI matches for Australia.