Why Usman Khawaja shouldn’t go quietly

3 months ago 20

Opinion

December 4, 2025 — 11.19am

“People do say I’m cocky. Some say I need a good whoopin’. Some say I talk too much. But, anything that I say I’m willing to back up.”

That’s a line from Muhammed Ali, the original “people’s champion”, before the 1974 fight against George Foreman in Zaire that turned Ali from a champion into a legend.

Usman Khawaja has, tongue firmly in cheek, often referred to himself as the people’s champ over the past few years, ever since he decided to speak up more loudly on issues outside the cricket sphere, and also since his return to the Australian Test side in January 2022.

Ali is a hero of Khawaja’s, not only for his boxing skill but for his willingness to be confident and outspoken in a way that many black athletes have taken up since.

There were many times in Ali’s career when that confidence and outspokenness infuriated the boxing establishment or wider, white society. But at the same time it inspired those aforementioned younger, aspiring athletes to walk unafraid.

When he made his comeback four years ago, and for most of the time since, Khawaja has been a popular figure across Australia, even if not everyone has agreed with some of his public words or positions.

The past week or so, however, there has been an abrupt shift in the tone of much commentary about him. So much so that it has, at times, reminded Khawaja of some of the racial stereotypes and biases he faced as a young player yet to make his mark on Test cricket.

Of course, there is a strong link between some of these views and the fact that Khawaja’s performances have tailed off considerably over the past couple of summers, excepting a double century in Sri Lanka in January.

The Australian selectors still regard Khawaja as the best option for a top order place during this Ashes series, and for that reason, he is still a part of the squad with the possibility of returning once he is fully recovered from back trouble.

For one thing, there is a view that having a seasoned opener around in the event of injury or the need to shuffle Travis Head back into the middle order is sound thinking, rather than pitching another young player into the cauldron of Boxing Day.

Ali drops Foreman at the end of the eighth round to win back the heavyweight championship of the world.

That part of the debate is legitimate criticism of performance, and many Australian cricketers have faced the same kind of heat in the twilight of their careers. Can they, in Ali’s words, back it up?

But there is also a level of nastiness to some of the criticism of Khawaja that has caught his eye, and actually contributed to his determination not to go quietly.

On Wednesday night, he took to Instagram with a reel of himself praying, accompanied by the words: “Every day, without fail, five times a day. And you think your hate and negativity can bring me down. Not even close. I’m the luckiest man in the world. Always. At least that’s how I perceive life. Alhamdulillah.”

The lunch at which Khawaja spoke intemperately about the nature of the Perth pitch on day one was one flashpoint, leading to a “please explain” from Cricket Australia and a review of audio of his remarks. On Wednesday night, CA confirmed that there would be no sanction for the comments.

It’s worthwhile, though, to remember why Khawaja was speaking at all. He was not the paid talent at a sportsman’s lunch. Nor was he fronting a press conference for Cricket Australia.

He was the organiser of what is now an annual fundraiser for the Usman Khawaja Foundation, which has the goal “to alleviate disadvantage experienced by youth through the provision of educational and cricketing opportunities”.

By remaining a part of the Australian Ashes squad, Khawaja is sending his own defiant message to the nameless hordes on social media who have written critical or hurtful comments about how he must immediately exit the stage and give someone else a go.

He is also providing a face and a voice, in particular, for the south Asian immigrant community that is year-on-year providing ever more talent for junior and community cricket around Australia, without that talent yet getting equivalent representation at the top of the game.

Khawaja is right to stand his ground. He’s not doing so for the selfish pursuit of a farewell Test match, or to hang onto contract dollars. He is still considered to be worth his place in this squad, and he is still sending a message to the communities that see themselves in him.

Whatever happens over the next month, Khawaja will always be the first Pakistani Australian Test cricketer, the first Muslim, and a batsman of the front rank. That much is worth considering before jumping into the comments section.