'Don't gaslight me' - Usman Khawaja hits out at 'racial stereotypes' after retirement announcement

Usman Khawaja has stated that the criticism he received at the commencement of the Ashes over his back injury was racial stereotyping, leaving him hurt and frustrated.

Khawaja made the remarks in a 50-minute press conference at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday, January 2, when he also announced that he was retiring from international cricket following the New Year’s Test against England at the SCG, starting on January 4.

Speaking to the media in the presence of his family, Khawaja revealed how he felt when questions were raised about his preparation and commitment as he played golf in the build-up to the Ashes opener in Perth, where he suffered back spasms and, as a result, could not open the innings for Australia. He reckoned that the criticism went beyond the confines of cricket and was a personal attack.

"I had back spasms, and that's something I couldn't control," Khawaja said. "But the way the media and the past players came out and attacked me, I could have copped it for two days, but I copped it for about five days straight. And it wasn't even about my performances."

"It was about something very personal, it's about my preparation. "The way everyone came at me about my preparation, it was quite personal in terms of things like, he's not committed to the team, he was only worried about himself, he played this golf comp the day before, he's selfish, he doesn't train hard enough, he's lazy. These are the same stereotypes, the racial stereotypes I've grown up with my whole life."

Khawaja, who was born in Pakistan and was the first Muslim to represent Australia in Test cricket, said that he was always discriminated against and is treated “a little bit different” to this day.

"I've always felt a little bit different, even now," he said. "I'm a coloured cricketer. The Australian cricket team is our best team. It's our pride and joy. But I've also felt very different in a lot of respects, different by the way I've been treated, different for how things have happened.

He stated that there were “countless” examples of players who did not go through the same level of vilification over similar things, and that he had to face this because of his race. Australian players have endured golf injuries in the past, most notably Glenn Maxwell missing an ODI World Cup fixture in 2023 after a freak concussion he suffered as he fell off the back of a golf cart.

"I can give you countless number of guys who played golf the day before and have been injured," he added later. "You guys haven't said a thing. No one else said a thing. I can give you even more, probably guys who've had 15 schooners the night before and then got injured. No one said a word. That's all right. They're just being Aussie larrikins. They're just being lads."

People will say 'He is playing race card again,' but don't gaslight me: Usman Khawaja

He admitted that the recent episode forced him to voice his thoughts even though he did not want to.

"I felt that I had to bring this up," he said. "I didn't want to talk about this, but I just want the journey for the next Usman Khawaja to be different. I want you to treat him or her all the same, not have racial stereotypes of who they might be."

Khawaja also recalled the criticism he faced last summer when he missed the final Sheffield Shield round due to hamstring tightness. He went to the Australian Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne during Queensland’s clash against South Australia in Adelaide, with the Shield final qualification on the line.

"You guys had a crack at me for missing a game, yet plenty of my teammates, who were not playing, you didn't say a word to them. So for me, I've been dealing with this stuff a long time. And I know people are like, okay, Uzzy's here, he's playing the race card again, but don't gaslight me."

 'Hoping the journey for the next Usman Khawaja is a bit easier'

While he agreed that progress has been made in this direction, Khawaja reckoned that plenty more remains to be done.

"There's still a little bit out there, which I still have to fight every single day," he said. "When I got injured, everyone went at my credibility and who I am as a person. That was the frustrating part."

"At the age of 25 I tried so hard to fit into the Australian cricket team. I was trying to dress like all the boys; I was going out to the clubs even though I didn't drink," said Khawaja.

"I tried all that and it didn't get work. I'd still get dropped from the Australian cricket team. I get it - my name isn't John Smith. When the 50-50 calls happen they're just not going my way. Why am I trying to be like everybody else?

"I'm hoping the journey for the next Usman Khawaja is a bit easier and we get to a line, however many generations, where that Usman Khawaja is the same as John Smith. That's what I've been trying to champion the whole time. We're a lot better and inclusive society than we've been before, but there's still a way to go because Australian cricket is still very white in a lot of respects. It might take time, but as long as you're working towards it you can't do more than that."