Usman Khawaja Claims Racial Abuse at Lord's During Ashes Series

Usman Khawaja Reports Racial Insult at Lord's

Former Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja has accused a member of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) of racially abusing him in the Long Room at Lord's. This incident occurred after the contentious dismissal of England's Jonny Bairstow during the 2023 Ashes series, as reported by Cricinfo.

In his autobiography titled 'Sabr', Khawaja recounted that an MCC member shouted, "shut up, you P**i," as the Australian team returned to the pavilion amidst a chorus of boos and insults from the crowd during the lunch break on the fifth day of the second Test.

Incident Details

Cricinfo noted that Sky Sports broadcast footage showing Khawaja confronting an MCC member while the Australian players walked through the Long Room. He was also seen notifying stewards about another individual before proceeding to the away dressing room.

Khawaja described the atmosphere as hostile, with members hurling profanities at the Australian players. He recounted an encounter where one member yelled in his ear, followed by another using a racial slur, which led him to lose his composure.

"It felt like a pack of dogs ready to pounce on their next meal. They were all in sync, cursing and calling us names. I was shocked and initially laughed in disbelief. Was this really the Long Room of such a prestigious cricket club?" he expressed.

MCC's Response and Investigation

Khawaja clarified that he could not pinpoint the individual who made the racial remark but confronted the first member he suspected. He stated, "I don't know who it was exactly. I confronted the first person I saw who was still shouting and spitting at me. I told security to remove him!"

Following the incident, the MCC took action by suspending three members for their conduct, expelling one, and issuing bans of four-and-a-half and two-and-a-half years to the others after an investigation. Ultimately, Australia triumphed in the Test match by 43 runs.