SYDNEY: Retiring veteran batter Usman Khawaja has hit out at racial stereotypes in Australian cricket, claiming he has been treated differently across his career because of his race and religion.
Khawaja, who was born in Pakistan and was the first Muslim to play Test cricket for Australia, in a 50-minute press conference at the SCG while announcing his international retirement, declared he wanted to make life easier for “the next Usman Khawaja”.
The veteran batter said he is still battling stereotypes in his final season, claiming some of the criticism of his Ashes preparation had racial undertones.