He has now become an integral cog in the Australian setup in the longest format of the game.
A dynamic opener has spoken up on the challenges he faced in the initial years of his career for being a coloured person in Australian cricket.
As a Pakistani-Muslim immigrant, Usman Khawaja has taken big strides to become one of the most important players in the Australian setup in the longest format of the game. However, the road to success was troubled by problems not just related to cricket but also his skin colour.
Speaking ahead of the upcoming five-match Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) against India, Khawaja reflected on growing up in a white-dominated area and how he thought that he to be white skinned to play for Australia.
The 37-year-old told ABC Sports, “I wanted to be as ‘Australian’ as possible. I wanted to be as white as possible because I felt like that’s what I had to do to play for Australia”.
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Usman Khawaja is expected to play a major role for the Aussies in the upcoming BGT series, slated to start from November 22.
While Khawaja will open the batting for Australia and shoulder a major responsibility, there still remains doubt about who his partner will be, with former opener David Warner retiring earlier this year.
Also with Cameron Green out of the Australia summer due to injury, it is likely that the Aussie management might hand a chance to youngsters Nathan McSweeney or Sam Konstas for the opening role alongside Khawaja.
On the other hand, Rohit Sharma-led India side will be coming after a demoralising home defeat against the New Zealand. The Men in Blue will hope to brush aside the recent debacle and come out all guns blazing as they eye a hattrick of BGT series win in Down Under.
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