Usman Khawaja shared his insights on his challenges growing up in Australian cricket’s predominantly “white” culture.
Speaking to ABC Sport, Khawaja, who was born in Pakistan and moved to Australia as a child, described the pressure he felt to conform to a certain image in order to succeed in the sport he loved.
“I wanted to be as ‘Australian’ as possible,” Khawaja said, recalling his growing years as a young cricketer.
“I wanted to be as white as possible, because I felt like that’s what I had to do to play for Australia.”
Khawaja noted that, traditionally, Australian cricket has been predominantly represented by players by players from the white backgrounds, making it challenging for him to fit in as a Pakistani Muslim immigrant.
Australia’s Usman Khawaja, right, celebrates with teammate Steve Smith after making 100 runs against South Africa during the second day of their cricket test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
The Australian opener also opened up how the transformative events of September 11, 2001 added a new layer of difficulty to his experience.
“After September 11, things changed a lot, you know, everywhere around the world. There were a lot of things I’d grown up seeing and experiencing.” He spoke of how this shift affected him and others from similar backgrounds, often resulting in a sense of exclusion or alienation in broader society.
In the recent years, Khawaja has embraced his identity, both as a respected cricketer and as a voice for those who don’t have a platform. He reflected on what legacy he wants to leave behind, explaining, “The last five years, in particular, I’ve thought about what legacy I want to leave in this game. I’ve played cricket for a long time, and people will remember me as a cricketer. But there’s so much about Australia that I love and want everyone else to experience.”
Khawaja emphasised the importance of making Australian cricket accessible to people from all backgrounds. Khawaja said that many Australians have misconceptions about people who are different from them, but hopes that his presence in the sport can break down some of these barriers.
Australia’s Pakistan-born opener Usman Khawaja. (PHOTO: Usman Khawaja via X)
“People are often scared of what they don’t understand,” he remarked. “But you don’t need to understand everything. I’m still a human being; I’m still a person. Where I’ve come from or what I believe in is irrelevant.”
Usman Khwaja expressed concern over the divisiveness he sees, not only in sports but within the larger Australian community. Khawaja believes that certain societal forces attempt to drive wedges between people based on race or religion. “When I see people creating hate, trying to divide the Australian community based on beliefs or backgrounds, I feel an obligation to stand up for all the people like myself and those who don’t have a voice,” Khawaja asserted. “If I don’t stand up for that, who will?”
