Usman Khawaja hits out at 'racial stereotypes' in spray of media, past players upon announcing retirement

Usman Khawaja has lifted the lid on "racial stereotypes" he says still exist within Australian cricket as he announced his international retirement on Friday.

The 39-year-old will hang up his Australian kits following the fifth Ashes match in Sydney, which begins on Sunday.

The left-hander will finish on 88 Tests for Australia - assuming he plays at the SCG - and he currently averages 43.39 in the baggy green.

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Khawaja was born in Pakistan and is of Muslim faith, but moved to Australia when he was five years old and grew up in western Sydney.

He says he was treated differently throughout his career, and believes it's been due to his race and religion.

Earlier this summer Khawaja was publicly criticised for playing a golf tournament in the days prior to an Ashes match, in which he subsequently got injured.

During an emotional press conference on Friday he took aim at journalists and former players.

"I've always felt a little bit different, even to now," he began.

"I am. I'm a coloured cricketer... I've also felt very different in many respects. Different in how I've been treated, different in how things have happened.

"Something that's been on my mind, from the start of the series I noticed, when I did my back... I hurt my back, I had back spasms. It was something I couldn't control.

"The way the media and the past players came out and attacked me... I could have copped it for two days, but I copped it for about five days straight.

"And it wasn't even about my performances. It was about something very personal, it was about my preparation.

"The way everyone came at me about my preparation, it was quite personal. Things like he's not committed to the team, he's only worried about himself, he played this golf comp the day before, he's selfish, he doesn't train hard enough, he's lazy - these are the same racial stereotypes I've grown up with my whole life."

Khawaja says the reports at the time had his wife Rachel "blowing up" but he himself was not surprised.

"These are the same racial stereotypes I've been dealing with my whole life. I just thought the past players, the media and everyone had moved past them, but we obviously haven't moved past because I've never seen anyone be treated like that in the Australian cricket team before. For their performances, sure, but not for the uncontrollables, the way you guys went at me," he said.

"That was the thing that disappointed me the most because I thought we were past that, but there's still a little bit out there which I still have to fight every single deal, which is the frustrating thing for me.

"I can tell you countless guys who have played golf the day before (a match) and been injured and you guys haven't said a thing, no one else said a thing.

"I can give you even more guys who have had 15 schooners the night before and then got injured, and no one has said a word. But that's all right, they are being Aussie larrikins, right? They are just being lads.

"But when I get injured everyone went at my credibility and who I am as a person. Normally when someone gets injured you feel a bit sorry for them - poor Josh Hazlewood or poor Nathan Lyon - we feel sorry for them, we don't attack what happened to them.

"That's probably the thing I've been most sad about, and that's what I've been dealing with for a long time. I don't talk about it a lot, but I felt like I needed to talk about right here."

Khawaja believes he is an easy target due to being "exposed" by speaking about political and social issues in a public domain.

He has openly criticised Australian politicians including former federal opposition leader Peter Dutton, as well as spoken out in support of Palestine amid its ongoing war with Israel.

"Not many athletes do (speak up), and I understand why they don't, because look what happened to me a the start of this series, I got absolutely nailed," he said.

"I just want the journey for the next Usman Khawaja to be different, I want you to treat him or her all the same.

"I'll never stop being who I am. I am Australian, I love cricket, and I'll continue being the best person I can be."

Khawaja made his Test debut during the 2010-11 Ashes series but struggled to nail down a full-time spot in the Australian team at first.

He was a mainstay in the side from 2015-2019 before again being axed and spending almost three years out of the side.

He was recalled in 2022 and formed an opening partnership with his close friend David Warner.

He retires with 16 Test centuries - so far - and more than 6000 runs to his name.

He plans to continue playing domestic cricket in the Big Bash League and for Queensland.

"This game is tough, it's the greatest humbler," he said.

"You're up one second, you're up one series, then the next series you can't score a run.

"I had Rachel to talk to. I'm not a guy who talks about his emotions a lot, what I'm feeling, but I was able to talk to her... and that helped me a lot."

Australia leads England 3-1 in the Ashes series with one match to play.