39 Facts About Usman Khawaja

Usman Tariq Khawaja is an Australian cricketer who represents Australia and Queensland.

Usman Khawaja was born in Pakistan and emigrated to Australia with his family at the age of four.

Usman Khawaja has played county cricket in the United Kingdom and briefly played in both the Indian Premier League and Pakistan Super League.

Usman Khawaja's family emigrated to New South Wales when he was four.

Usman Khawaja is a qualified commercial and instrument-rated pilot, completing a bachelor's degree in aviation from the University of New South Wales before he made his Test debut.

Usman Khawaja attained his basic pilot licence before his driving licence.

Usman Khawaja announced his engagement on 14 December 2016 on his Facebook page.

Rachel Usman Khawaja converted to Islam prior to their wedding.

Usman Khawaja made his first-class debut for the New South Wales Blues in 2008.

On 22 June 2010 it was announced by Cricket Australia that Usman Khawaja would be a part of the Australian touring squad to play Pakistan in a two Test series in England.

Since 2011 up until February 2022, Usman Khawaja has played for the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League.

Usman Khawaja signed a contract to play for county side Derbyshire in the 2011 English domestic season.

Usman Khawaja played in four County Championship matches, averaging 39.87 with the bat and scoring a century against Kent.

Usman Khawaja was dropped from Australia's Test team after the home series against New Zealand, making way for Shaun Marsh upon Marsh's return from injury.

Usman Khawaja scored 86 runs on his debut against Durham but in vain as Lancashire lost by 27 runs.

Usman Khawaja plays club cricket for Valley District Cricket Club in Brisbane.

In February 2022, Usman Khawaja opted out of his contract with the Sydney Thunder, citing "family reasons".

Usman Khawaja was selected in the Australian cricket team to play in the fifth Test against England in Sydney on 3 January 2011.

On 3 January 2011, Usman Khawaja became the 419th Australian to be presented with an Australian Cricket Test baggy green cap.

Usman Khawaja became the first Muslim and first Pakistani-born Australian player to play Test cricket for Australia, and only the seventh foreign-born cricketer to do so in the last 80 years.

Usman Khawaja made his Test return in the second Test of the 2013 Ashes series, replacing Ed Cowan.

Usman Khawaja made this return in his tenth Test in the coveted number 3 position, helping Australia to an emphatic victory.

Usman Khawaja made his Twenty20 International debut for Australia against India on 31 January 2016.

Additionally, Usman Khawaja set a record for becoming the first ever batsman to score a Test century in an innings of a Day-Night Test match on home soil and still has the record for the second highest individual score in a Day-Night Test innings.

Usman Khawaja played his first Test match against the country of his birth, Pakistan, on 15 December 2016 at the Gabba.

In January 2017, Usman Khawaja dabbed in celebration of his half-century scored in a Test match against Pakistan in Sydney.

Usman Khawaja's move received mixed reactions, with some praising it, while others accused him of disrespecting his opponents.

Usman Khawaja played a match saving innings against Pakistan in the first Test in 2018 at Dubai.

Therefore, for the fourth Ashes Test, Steve Smith replaced Usman Khawaja after returning from concussion, while Marnus Labuschagne retained his place in the side.

On 16 July 2020, Usman Khawaja was named in a 26-man preliminary squad of players to begin training ahead of a possible tour to England following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Usman Khawaja was not included in the final squad for the tour.

In January 2022, Usman Khawaja made a comeback to international cricket after a long hiatus, in the 4th Ashes Test at SCG; and made twin centuries in the match, posting scores of 137 and 101* respectively.

Usman Khawaja was then selected for the Australian tour of Pakistan.

Usman Khawaja was the highest run scorer in the series scoring 496 runs at an average of 165.33, a performance which earned him player of the series.

Usman Khawaja scored 97 runs in the first innings of the first test.

Usman Khawaja then scored 160 runs in the first innings of the second test and 44* in the second innings.

Usman Khawaja capped off his return to international cricket by picking up the Shane Warne Test Player of the Year at the Allan Border Medal ceremony, ahead of Travis Head and Steve Smith.

Usman Khawaja was awarded the Community Impact Award at the same event.

Usman Khawaja has scored 14 centuries in Test matches and two in One Day Internationals.