Usman Khawaja announced his retirement from international cricket, why did he take this sudden decision in the middle of the Ashes?

Usman Khawaja Announces Retirement From International Cricket: Australia’s experienced opening batsman Usman Khawaja has announced his retirement from international cricket. An Ashes series of 5 test matches is being played between England and Australia, the last match of which will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground. This match will be the last test of Usman Khawaja’s career. Let us tell you that Usman Khawaja also made his Test debut on this ground. This last match of the Ashes series 2025-26 will start from January 4, 2026.

How was the international career of Usman Khawaja?

Usman Khawaja made his debut for Australia in the 2010-11 Ashes series. Due to the injury of Australian captain Ricky Ponting in this series, he got a chance to debut in Test cricket. Usman Khawaja is the first player born in Pakistan and playing for Australia. He came to New South Wales, Australia with his family at the age of just 4 years. Sydney Test will be the 88th match of his career. At the same time, so far in 87 tests he has scored a total of 6,206 runs at an average of 43.39. This includes 16 centuries and 28 fifties. Khawaja’s biggest inning was 232 runs. Apart from this, he has scored a total of 1,554 runs in 40 ODI matches and 241 runs in 9 T20 International matches.

Khwaja gave an emotional speech

Khawaja said in an emotional speech on the announcement of his retirement, ‘I lived on Cook Road, a short distance from the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). I’ll never forget when I was little, I saw Michael Slater driving his red Ferrari. I couldn’t believe my luck, I had just seen a Test cricketer. As a boy whose parents were barely making ends meet and were trying to feed their children in a small two-bedroom apartment, I thought that one day I too would become a Test cricketer and one day I would drive whatever car I wanted.

Usman Khawaja further said- I have come today to announce that after the SCG Test match, I will retire from all international cricket. I am a proud Muslim colored boy from Pakistan, who was told that he would never play for the Australian cricket team. Look at me now. I hope that I have repaid your (parents) sacrifice by leaving everything in Pakistan and coming to Australia to give a better life to our children.