‘Very White, Very Wrong’: Usman’s Diversity Lecture
Usman Khawaja’s racism claims raise an awkward question: why lecture Australia on diversity while ignoring Pakistan cricket’s far poorer record on race, religion, and inclusion?
Usman Khawaja used his retirement announcement last week to accuse his detractors of racism and Islamophobia.
The Pakistani-born Muslim claimed he had always felt different in the Australian team and insisted that criticism of his form was due to bigotry.
Playing the Racism Card in Australian Cricket
It’s not the first time Khawaja has accused Australia of being racist.
Back in 2022, he called for greater diversity within the Australian national team.
He said Australia had a “very white-dominated cricket team“, which was not reflective of the general population.
Funny, I don’t remember anyone accusing the West Indies of being a “very black-dominated cricket team”. Or the English team being full of pale-faced spinners who enjoy tea more than wickets.
Sport, as a reminder, is about talent, not demographics.
Pakistan’s Record
What I want to know is why Usman Khawaja insists on greater diversity from the Australian rather than from the Pakistani cricket team?
How many white blokes do you reckon have played for Khawaja’s country of birth in their 74-year Test cricket history?
Three.
Wallis Mathias, Antao D’Souza and Duncan Sharpe. All of them played in the ’50s and ’60s.
Pakistan hasn’t fielded a white Test cricketer in 63 years.
And how many Christians have played Test cricket for Pakistan?
Four.
The ‘white’ guys mentioned above, plus Mohammad Yousuf, although he later converted to Islam.
Selective Diversity Demands
While on the subject of diversity within the Pakistani cricket team, one of their most successful spin bowlers was a Hindu named Danish Kaneria.
Kaneria reported that during his 61-game career — between 2000 and 2010 — he was constantly teased for being Hindu.
He said senior teammates would often make derogatory comments about his religion, and regularly in front of younger players.
Coaches and officials rarely intervened.
Worse, he was repeatedly excluded from team bonding activities, such as dinners, outings, and casual gatherings.
And yet Usman Khawaja has the audacity to lecture Australia about the importance of diversity.
How do you think he’d have gone had he given the same sermon in Lahore?
___
Republished with thanks to The James Macpherson Report. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
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Glad to see his departure. Talent doesn’t equate to integrity. So many things to consider with Usman, but you’ve covered them better than I could.
Thanks for the stats on the Pakistani cricket team!
If he was so hard done by while part of the Australian Cricket Team then why not go home to Pakistan and play for them. Why not? Hmmmmmm – I know where I would rather live – so does this goose.
This man has taken us for mugs ! What was his motive to come to live in Australia ? This country has given him a peaceful life, unlike his native Pakistan. He has made a lot of money here, but, is so ungrateful. :Perhaps you should return home which is full of Terrorist groups which plot attacks on Israel and the West (including Australia ) where you will feel more comfortable? The sooner you leave , the better . I am sure many Aussies will not miss you. No tears will be shed for an enemy of our country ,culture and religions.
It’s disappointing that Usman has come out with this statement on his retirement from International Cricket. Seems he’ll be remembered for his controversial statement rather than his cricket record.
As a cricket fan I have a lot of time for Usman. I like his approach to the game. He’s a lot more laid back and relaxed than someone like Steve Smith who’s always so uptight and fidgety. In many ways it’s this laid back approach that is quintessentially Australian.
As a Christian I also have great respect for the way he plays the game. In all my years of watching Cricket I have always seen him playing the game in the right spirit, always gracious, never sledging and abusing opponents and never cheating. Unlike other Australian players.
In saying that however, it is sad that he played the race card (if indeed he has, I hope this is not another media beat up). He’s not the first dark-skinned person to play for Australia. To the best of my knowledge Roy never played the race card. But then again, Roy fitted in so well with the dressing room he was always one of the boys.
Extremely dissapointing to see the profanities usex by the person here in the comments by Roberta.
That has no place here on a Christian site.
Very disappointing too that it has gone unchecked since 9.58 am this morning and this evening at 7.45 pm its still here.
Thanks for alerting us, Jon. The expletives have been removed last night as per our commenting policy, which does not allow profanities. As the expletive was not spelt correctly, the filter missed it and posted the comment. Please see our commenting policy here: https://dailydeclaration.org.au/comments.
Good point Jon D. Sadly we have to turn a blind eye to that these days from Christians. Swearing and cussing seems to be de rigueur in 2026. Christianity used to be about salvation, redemption and righteousness. People like you and I don’t swear because we see holiness as being ‘set apart’ from the world.
But ever since these Christian Nationalists took over it’s all about ‘righteous anger’ and fighting political agendas with fervor and righteous indignation. They see swearing as a mark of their fortitude and intensity – that those of us who don’t swear are ‘weak’ and ‘meek and mild’ and yet because they swear that means they are ‘called to action’. That’s why you’ll hear these types in their meetings and rallies dropping profanities regularly just to show how committed to the cause they are.
And because they’re Christians they use it to full effect, ‘As a Christian I never swear, I wouldn’t normally say this, but right now Australia is under such a threat that bleep bleep bleep…’ They say ‘bleep the devil’ And everyone supports them and says ‘We understand how mad you are because of the attacks of the enemy, we bleeping join with you and bleeping bleep, this righteous anger feels so good I hate bleeping immigrants, I hate bleeping Muslims’.
Meantime Usman Khawaja gave a press conference and he didn’t swear once.
Funnily enough, all the swearing reveals is just hate. Which is not Christ like at all.
What about his very pale wife? Is she an albino Pakki?
Well said Col.
Its a sign they don’t know the Bible, and if one doesn’t know the Bible then they don’t know Christ who is the Word.
Ephesians 4:29
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers”
James 3:10
“Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.”
1 Peter 2:1
“Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings.”
Ephesians 5:4
“Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.”
Proverbs 4:24
“Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.”
Colossians 3:8
“But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.”
1 Corinthians 15:33
“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”
The Word is full of exhortations in regards to language one uses and those who act contrary to His Word show they don’t know Him.
Titus 1 – 16
“They profess that they know God; but in works (actions and words) they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”
Some cricketers are rembered for regretable poor decisions. Greg Chappell – Underarm, Steve Smith Sandpapergate. Usman will be remembered for his ungrateful racist comments toward his adopted country. I hope his shoulders are strong enough to cary that chip he’s developed.
Did you notice Usman did not once acknowledge the applause of the crowd as he walked off after being dismissed in what is likely to be his last appearence for Australia in the Sydney test. Disappointing.
Insightful points Red.
“Disappointing” sums up Usman for me to.
You’re right W Brown, in the first innings he didn’t acknowledge the happy-clappy crowd, but that’s to be expected – he’d only scored 17! It’s standard procedure (and an unwritten rule particularly here in Australia) that even if the crowd are applauding you, you don’t acknowledge them unless you’ve scored at least 50 (and you can do a little nod and a little bat raise) or a ton, where you can do a proper acknowledgement. Many of the people there for that innings would have been out of their seats applauding because for them they knew it was the last time they’d see him live, but they wouldn’t have expected an acknowledgement. Humility and head down is the expected norm.
Different story today however, Uzzy kissed the ground and was waving to the crowd, his bat was raised the whole time he walked off. He was smiling and genuinely appreciative.
Good on him. He’s well liked and will be well remembered.
please go home to Pakistan, thanks for calling this out
I must admit Uzzy was swearing a lot out in the field today while on the mic.
English swear words too! Not Pakistani ones! Haha.
Getting back to this article:
Usman Khawaja’s racism claims raise an awkward question: why lecture Australia on diversity while ignoring Pakistan cricket’s far poorer record on race, religion, and inclusion?
But that’s not really the point is it? Uzzy’s not saying things are better in Pakistan is he? This is all a bit of a strawman, a diversion. He came here when he was 4.
So if he’s detailing his experience in the Australian team, highlighting a few faults, he’s perfectly entitled to do so. He’s not saying Pakistani Cricket is any better. He has nothing to do with Pakistani cricket.
He’s a product of our cricket system. So when he compares Australia to other similar countries like England, New Zealand and South Africa he’s probably quite right in suggesting that Australia (particularly the Mens team) remains very white dominated.
Go to any cricket oval around Australia and see the number of Asians playing. The Australian test team is not reflective of that. Australia has never had a non-white Captain. England has had two.
The BBL on the other hand always has at least four non-whites playing in every game. There’s four to five none whites in every squad.
So Uzzy has a point. It’s 2026 and the days where we expect the non-whites to just put-up and shut up are long gone. And that’s a good thing for everyone! He’s an inspiration for all Asians right around Australia.
Footnote: Uzzy’s just knotched up a fine ½ century in his first post retirement game.