Australia’s senior opening batter Usman Khawaja has confirmed that he will retire from international cricket after the upcoming Sydney Ashes Test against England. The 39-year-old made the announcement during a press conference ahead of the match, stating that the fifth Test of the ongoing Ashes series will be his last appearance for Australia.
Khawaja, who began his Test career in 2011 at the Sydney Cricket Ground, will fittingly end his journey at the same venue. Over the years, he has featured in 87 Tests, 40 ODIs and nine T20Is, scoring more than 8000 international runs across formats. He was also part of Australia’s 2023 World Test Championship-winning squad and was named ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year for 2023.
Born in Pakistan and raised in Australia, Khawaja became the first Pakistan-born and the first Muslim cricketer to represent the Australian men’s team, leaving a strong cultural and social legacy along with his on-field achievements. Reflecting on his career, he thanked his family, teammates and coaches for their support, saying cricket had given him unforgettable memories and lifelong friendships.
Khawaja enjoyed a remarkable career revival in 2022 when he scored twin centuries at the SCG after returning to the side as a 35-year-old. Australia currently lead the Ashes series 3–1, and the veteran batter is set to bid farewell in front of his home crowd in Sydney.
