Curtains down on 15-year career; Australian batsman Usman Khawaja announces retirement from international cricket, gets emotional at press conference

SYDNEY: Australian batsman Usman Khawaja has announced his retirement from international cricket. Khawaja announced his retirement at a press conference. The 39-year-old cricketer said that he will retire after the fifth Test of the Ashes series against England.

Khawaja's Test on Sunday will mark the end of his 15-year career. Khawaja made history by becoming the first Muslim to play for the Australian national team. He scored 6,206 runs and 16 centuries in 88 Tests. He played 40 ODIs and nine T20Is.

He responded emotionally at a press conference during the retirement announcement. "I hope I repaid your sacrifice in leaving everything behind in Pakistan to come to Australia to give us kids a better life," he said while addressing his parents in his speech. "Eighty-eight Test matches, Dad, is that enough?" Khawaja laughed.

'I'm a proud Muslim coloured boy from Pakistan who was told he would never play for the Australian cricket team. Look at me now. As I walk off for the last time I do so with gratitude and peace, or as we say, salaam, grateful for the journey, the people, the lessons. Thank you for letting me live my dream and for sharing it with me'.- Khawaja said.

Khawaja, who migrated to Australia from Pakistan as a child, made his debut against England in Sydney in 2011. Khawaja was once the only Asian-origin player in Australian first-class cricket. Apart from cricket, he is also a pilot and provides cricket training and educational assistance to refugees and underprivileged children through the 'Usman Khawaja Foundation'.