Usman Khawaja talks about teammates, family and Pakistan tour as he accepts Shane Warne Medal

Usman Khawaja has started off 2023 brilliantly (Associated Press)

Usman Khawaja, on Monday, bagged the first-ever Shane Warne Men’s Test Player of the Year award in the Cricket Australia Awards. In 2022, the 36-year-old amassed 1080 Test runs from 11 matches, at an average of 67.50, with four centuries and five half-centuries in the year.

While accepting the award, the Australian Test opener made an emotional speech, which had a couple of funny prose as well. He started off by talking about the Sydney Test against England, where he returned to the Test fold after three years.

"Honestly thought that game at the SCG … I always thought it could be my last game. I was playing it as my last game," Khawaja stated.

Khawaja scored twin hundreds in that Ashes game, bagging the Player of the Match award for his 137 and 101*.

The southpaw, who is the first Australian Test cricketer of Pakistan origin, talked about his national side's historic tour of Pakistan, which they did after a leap of 21 years.

"All the way from CA up to the top, up to Pat (Cummins), all the players – it was a sacrifice at some level because the families … it was uncertain. We hadn’t been back there for so long, so for a lot of people they don’t see behind the scenes it’s a tough decision to make. Credit to everyone who went." 

"Obviously I was born in Pakistan. I know what it means to Pakistan cricket. I know what it means to Pakistan. I know what it means to my dad because I grew up and I saw what the passion he had for cricket and supporting Pakistan and now Australia. For the guys to do that, I think speaks volumes for the team and where we’re headed," he added.

The Queenslander also congratulated Steve Smith, Pat Cummins, Marnus Labuschagne and Nathan Lyon - but cheekily took a dig at them.  

"I’ll just start by saying congrats to everyone on the team. I think there’s been outstanding performances – Marnus, Smudger, Patty always, Gaz the amount of wickets you’ve taken this year is unbelievable. I was just a little bit better I think … I’m just joking guys, I had to get it out there,” he said with a laugh. 

He, who also won the Community Impact Award by the CA awards, talked about the changing approach of the society towards the players who follow other cultures. 

"I finally feel like not only my teammates, but Australia as a country and as a cricketing organisation is finally respecting me as the person, the beliefs I have. I love where we’ve been and where we’re going. I love where we’ve come over the last 10 to 15 years and hopefully over the next 10 to 15 years we can be even further.

Khawaja will next be seen wearing the Baggy Green cap in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India at Nagur, starting from February 8.

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