Opening batter Usman Khawaja has paid an emotional tribute to his family after being named the Shane Warne Men’s Test Player of the Year.
The opener scored 1020 runs during the voting period at an average of 78.46, his 22 votes earning him the award ahead of Marnus Labuschagne (20) and Steve Smith (16).
Recalled to the team in January 2022 when Travis Head had COVID-19, Khawaja peeled off a century in each innings against England at the SCG, before making 496 runs in just three Tests in Pakistan, the first series he’d played in the country of his birth.
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He enjoyed a prolific 2022-23 summer, capped off by an unbeaten 195 in Sydney, 12 months after his unexpected return to the side.
“I honestly thought that game at the SCG … I always thought it could be my last game. I was playing it as my last game,” he said.
“It’s funny when you play with that kind of mindset how things can actually work out. I was just worried about getting off the mark and doing the process right and trying to win the game for the team. Life’s very funny at times.”
The left-hander spent more than two years out of the national team, a period where he says the support of his wife, Rachel, was critical.
“For my wife, Rachel – you are the rock. You know how much I love you,” he said.
“When I got dropped in 2019, you gave me unconditional love. I’m getting emotional thinking about a very tough time in my life. You loved me when I was playing for Australia, you loved me when I was playing for Queensland, even when I was a ‘clubbie’ playing for ‘Valleys’ you gave me unconditional love.
“You love Usman Khawaja the person, not Usman Khawaja the cricketer – and for that, I’m truly indebted to you. Without you, I wouldn’t be standing here right now.
“I’ll just give a quick mention to my daughters, Aisha and Ayla,” he added.
“They won’t understand what’s going on right now, but I’m sure at some level at some time in life, they’ll be like ‘you should’ve thanked us’. Feisty girls, those ones.
“Aisha I love you so much. You bring so much happiness to my life, something I could never ever explain. You mean the world to me. Ayla, you’re only eight months old, you’re attached to your mum right now, the most I get is ‘ba ba ba’ from you – but that ‘ba ba ba’ melts my heart and I love you too very much.”
Khawaja also made mention of his parents, who made the call to move from Pakistan to Australia more than 30 years ago.
“To my mum, I’m sure you probably would have seen her in the stands,” he said.
“She’s the lady with the scarf who’s always panicking every single match I play. She still thinks it’s my first Test match – Mum I’ve played 50 Test matches, I’m 36 years old, relax! Enjoy the game please. I love you so much. I’m hoping the next little bit of the journey you can enjoy.
“To my dad, who’s an absolute cricket tragic, you made the biggest sacrifice of all for us kids. We lived a very good life in Pakistan, we were comfortable. But you moved, you decided to take a leap – without a job, without anything – for us children to have a better life.
“For that I will always be indebted and for that I will always thank you for allowing me to be in Australia and representing the Australian cricket team. Who knows if you never moved, I might have been at the PCB awards right now getting an award … probably for best all-rounder because my offies would’ve been devastating out there!”
Khawaja , who made his debut for the national team in 2011, said the last 12 months had been the happiest time of his career.
“The love I’ve gotten over the last year, I could never ever imagined getting that kind of love,” he said.
“I finally feel like not only my teammates, but Australia as a country and as a cricketing organisation is finally respecting me as the person, the beliefs I have. I love where we’ve been and where we’re going. I love where we’ve come over the last 10 to 15 years and hopefully over the next 10 to 15 years we can be even further.
“Thank you.”
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