Steve Smith (L) and Usman Khawaja (R)
After announcing his international retirement, veteran Australia opener Usman Khawaja is all set for one last dance in the upcoming Ashes finale against England at Sydney Cricket Ground. Apart from that, Khawaja’s SCG presser also included a few controversial remarks that left the Aussie cricketing diaspora divided.
Usman Khawaja stated in his retirement press conference that he was treated ‘unfairly’ both in his Test career and in the ongoing Ashes 2025-26. Meanwhile, the stand-in Aussie skipper, Steve Smith, recently revealed a decision during his captaincy that made Khawaja hate the Aussie cricket team.
“He hates us for it…” - Steve Smith on Usman Khawaja’s disappointment with Australia
Smith addressed the media in a pre-match interaction ahead of the last Ashes clash in Sydney. He also defended his teammate’s claims of racial stereotyping after he missed the Ashes opener in Perth owing to back spasms in the aftermath of his golf outing.
“He hates it, but we dropped him, and I was captain at that stage. We dropped him in the subcontinent; we didn't think he was playing the spinners as well as he does now. He hates us for it, but he got that opportunity to go back and figure out ways to play,” said Smith to reporters in the SCG press room.
“The way he's been able to play over his 15-year career, 88 Test matches, it's a credit to him and not many people get to go out on their own terms,” he added later.
Earlier, it was Khawaja who expressed his disappointment at being mistreated throughout his Test career. His remarks found a ground in the eight occasions when he was left out of the Aussie Test side.
“I’d gone through so many tough times at the start of my career, (the belief that) I couldn’t play spin in the subcontinent,” said Khawaja to journalists during his retirement presser.
“I didn’t feel like I was supported, even by the coaching staff. It’s not having a crack at the coaching staff, I just didn’t feel like I was supported,” the southpaw added later.
“It's pretty unfair…” - Smith calls out criticism on Khawaja after golf fiasco
Smith also called out the criticism that the media and former cricketers threw at Khawaja after his absence in the Perth Test owing to back spasms.
“I'm not going into the mind of Usman Khawaja, but in terms of preparation, I think he's always prepared the same way,” said Smith.
“I think some of the stuff around him getting injured when he played golf the day before the game that was unfair. He's done that for 15 years, but on an odd occasion when he prepared the same way and he got injured, it's pretty unfair to single that out,” he added.
Furthermore, the Aussie skipper was also asked about Khawaja’s claims of ‘racial stereotyping’ and ‘unfair criticism’. Responding to the same, Smith refrained from going into the matter in depth but still defended his longtime teammate regarding his preparation in the Aussie mix.
Speaking of Khawaja, the classy left-hander is set to make his last international at the SCG, the same venue where it all started for him 15 years ago. He has joined the list of legends like James Anderson and Jacques Kallis, who played their last international game at the same venue where they debuted.
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