SYDNEY – Australian Test cricketer Usman Khawaja has announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing an end to a distinguished career spanning more than a decade.
Khawaja will retire after playing the Pink Test against England in Sydney during the ongoing Ashes series. The match at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) will be his 88th and final Test appearance. Notably, Khawaja also began his first-class career at the SCG.
The 39-year-old made his Test debut in 2011 and went on to score more than 6,000 runs in a 15-year-long Test career. He is regarded as one of Australia’s most technically sound and consistent batters of his generation.
Beyond his on-field achievements, Khawaja has established a strong legacy through the Usman Khawaja Foundation, contributing significantly to community welfare. He is Australia’s first Pakistan-born and first Muslim Test cricketer.
In recognition of his outstanding performances, Khawaja was named ICC Test Cricketer of the Year and Shane Warne Test Cricketer of the Year in 2023. He was also a key member of the Australian team that won the ICC World Test Championship in 2023.
Announcing his retirement, Khawaja said his overwhelming feeling was one of contentment. “I feel fortunate to have played so many matches for Australia, and I hope I have been able to inspire people along the way,” he said.
Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg praised Khawaja’s contribution to Australian cricket, saying his exceptional performances and off-field impact had left a lasting impression.
He described Khawaja as a stylish and outstanding batter and thanked him for his services, congratulating him on a remarkable career.
Usman Khawaja has represented Australia in 87 Tests, 40 One Day Internationals and nine T20 Internationals.
The final Test of the Ashes series is set to begin on January 4 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
