Veteran Australian batter Usman Khawaja has announced that the upcoming Sydney Test will be the final chapter of his international career, confirming his retirement ahead of the fifth and final Ashes match at the SCG.
Speaking at an emotional press conference on Friday, January 2, 2026, the 39-year-old reflected on his long journey in Australian cricket and expressed hope that future players from diverse backgrounds would face fewer barriers than he did.
“I just want the journey for the next Usman Khawaja to be different,” he said. “Treat him the same. Don’t judge him through racial stereotypes or assumptions about who he might be.”
The Sydney Test which is going to start on the 4th of January will mark the 88th match of Khawaja and it is very appropriate since it is being played at the same place where he first appeared in Test cricket during the 2010-11 Ashes series. He accumulated over 15 years 6,206 Test runs at a total average of 43.39 and 16 centuries.
Khawaja was born in Pakistan and moved to Sydney when he was five. He was the first Muslim and the first cricketer born in Pakistan to play Test cricket for Australia. His being in the national team was a great sign of diversity and made him one of the most noticeable symbols in Australian sports.
More than his numbers, Khawaja hopes his career stands as proof that belonging is possible. “I hope I’ve inspired kids who feel different, who feel like they don’t belong, or who’ve been told they’ll never make it,” he said. “Seeing is believing.”
Khawaja’s career was not without setbacks. After spending much of his time in the middle order, he lost his place during the 2021–22 Ashes series. A late call-up for the Sydney Test that year, following Travis Head’s COVID diagnosis, revived his career as he scored centuries in both innings. That comeback paved the way for a successful opening partnership with David Warner, who himself retired after the SCG Test two years ago.
In the current Ashes series too, he faced problems due to his back injury during the opening test in Perth that kept him out of the second test and was also left out of the third test to be finally replaced by the illness of Steve Smith through scores of 82 and 40 that helped Australia win the series and retain the Ashes urn.
Khawaja also spoke candidly about criticism he received from media and former players, particularly after his injury in Perth. He said the reaction reinforced his belief that he is still judged differently. “It became personal,” he said. “Questions about my commitment, about playing golf — I copped it for days.”
Despite those challenges, Khawaja leaves the game proud of who he is and what he represents. “I’m a proud Muslim, a coloured boy from Pakistan who was told he’d never play for Australia,” he said. “Look at me now. You can do it too.”
Khawaja was joined by his wife Rachel and daughters Aisha and Ayla as he made the announcement, closing a remarkable career that reshaped perceptions and opened doors for generations to come.
