Being Racially Vilified Actually Made Me Stronger – Usman Khawaja

Oct 9, 2017 at 11:13 AM

facebook iconlinkedin iconmail icontwitter iconWhatsApp iconTelegram icon
Being Racially Vilified Actually Made Me Stronger – Usman Khawaja

Australia’s leading Test batsman Usman Khawaja has revealed some exciting fact about facing racial bias during his younger days. He says that the effect of the racial taunt was such that he and his sub-continental friends would support other international teams during sporting contests.

The stylish left-hander, who is expecting an Ashes berth soon, was born in Pakistan but settled in Australia with his parents and two elder brothers when he was five-years-old. However, as every young kid of a different race in an alien country, Khawaja found it tough to blend in with the locals who treated him as an outsider, hurling racial taunts.

He says that during high school, he was called an “F—ing curry muncher” on a regular basis by kids as well as their parents.

“Getting sledged by opposition players and their parents was the norm,” Khawaja told the PlayersVoice.com website.

But, despite getting sentimentally hurt, he chose to remain calm and ignore rather than reacting to the sledges. However, he got emotionally detached with his adopted country.

“Some of them said it just quietly enough for only me to hear. It still hurt, but I would never show it. Most of the time it was when I scored runs. Some parents take things too seriously.

“It is for this reason why so many of my friends, most of whom were born outside Australia, didn’t support Australia in sporting contests. I didn’t either.

“Especially in cricket. It was either West Indies, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka. Anyone else. It’s probably why Brian Lara was my favourite cricketer.”

The 30-year-old also revealed this partiality also made sub continental parents feel insecure about their kid’s future.

“So many times I was told by other subcontinental parents, ‘You will never make it, you’re not the right skin colour’. No joke,” he said.

“That might have been true in some respects in past eras and generations, but it just drove me more to prove them all wrong.

But, Khawaja has seen things improved for good now and says both cricket and society have matured. He made his Australian debut in the 2011 Sydney Test and had played 24 Tests with a batting average of 45.47.

“Now subcontinental parents can see a future for their kids, at a younger age. It isn’t about making a choice – study or cricket-like my Mum wanted me to do,” Khawaja added.

“And I can see it, in the domestic cricketers of all ages that are coming through now, compared to when I started playing and was the only Asian player at first-class level in the whole country.

“Now we have Gurinder Sandhu, who is a close friend of mine from Sydney Thunder and represented Australia. Another youngster from the Thunder is Arjun Nair, an excellent young, up-and-coming player. Being racially vilified actually made me stronger in many respects,” he said.

“So why is there an emergence of multi-race players now in Australia? Maybe it was inevitable with the growing multicultural community in Australia. Maybe it was a few friendly faces at the highest level. We will never know.

“What I do know is Australian cricket is slowly changing and will finally have a chance to reflect what Australia really is. An international team truly representative of its richly diverse population.”

Related Article
Former Pakistan captain Javeria Khan announces retirement from international cricket
Former Pakistan captain Javeria Khan announces retirement from international cricket

Mar 22, 2024, 11:12 AM


PCB announces New Zealand tour to Pakistan for five-match T20 series
PCB announces New Zealand tour to Pakistan for five-match T20 series

Mar 13, 2024, 11:09 AM


Pakistan Cricket Board to observe breast and childhood cancer awareness days in PSL 9
Pakistan Cricket Board to observe breast and childhood cancer awareness days in PSL 9

Mar 4, 2024, 7:45 PM


AUS vs PAK: Mohammad Hafeez Laments The Lack Of Pre-Test Preparation Time In Australia
AUS vs PAK: Mohammad Hafeez Laments The Lack Of Pre-Test Preparation Time In Australia

Dec 31, 2023, 10:12 AM


Umar Gul And Saeed Ajmal Appointed Bowling Coaches Of Pakistan Team
Umar Gul And Saeed Ajmal Appointed Bowling Coaches Of Pakistan Team

Nov 21, 2023, 1:44 PM


Morne Morkel Quits As Pakistan Bowling Coach
Morne Morkel Quits As Pakistan Bowling Coach

Nov 13, 2023, 4:02 PM


Desktop Banner
Mobile Banner