Steve Smith Defends Khawaja Amid Retirement Criticism

Smith Responds to Khawaja's Criticism

Australian cricketer Steve Smith opted to refrain from commenting on Usman Khawaja's statements during his retirement press conference, where Khawaja expressed feeling 'different in many respects.' However, Smith did address the backlash regarding Khawaja's preparation for the first Test in Perth, where he faced back spasms, as reported by a sports news outlet.

Khawaja has announced that he will retire from international cricket following the fifth Ashes Test against England, which is set to commence on Sunday.

"I won't delve into Usman Khawaja's mindset. He has had an impressive career," Smith remarked. "Regarding his preparation, he has consistently trained hard. The criticism surrounding his injury after playing golf the day before the match is unjust. He has maintained this routine for 15 years and has had a successful career. It's unfair to highlight one instance where he got injured after preparing the same way. As for the rest, I can't comment much; those are Usman's opinions," he added.

Khawaja Reflects on His Career and Criticism

Entering his final Test, the 39-year-old Khawaja boasts a record of 87 matches and 6206 runs, including 16 centuries and 28 half-centuries, with an average of 43.39 across 157 innings. He confirmed his retirement during a heartfelt 50-minute press conference at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday.

During this emotional session, Khawaja discussed the criticism he received for playing golf three days prior to the Ashes opener in Perth, where he experienced back spasms that prevented him from batting in the second innings.

As the first Muslim to represent Australia in Test cricket, Khawaja shared his experiences of facing criticism throughout his career. "I've always felt somewhat different, even now. As a person of color, I perceive the Australian cricket team as our pride and joy. However, I've also felt distinct in various ways, particularly in how I've been treated and the events that have unfolded," he stated.

"I suffered from back spasms, which were beyond my control. Yet, the media and former players launched a relentless attack on me. I could handle it for a couple of days, but it persisted for about five days. It wasn't even about my performance; it was about something deeply personal—my preparation. The way I was criticized for my preparation felt very personal, with accusations of not being committed to the team, being selfish, and not training hard enough. These are the same racial stereotypes I've encountered throughout my life. I had hoped that the media and former players had evolved past this, but it seems we haven't fully moved on, as I've never seen anyone treated this way in the Australian cricket team before," Khawaja expressed.

Looking Ahead

With Australia already having secured the series, they aim to clinch the fifth Test to finish with a 4-1 victory, while England seeks to replicate their success from the fourth Test.