In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja has made damning comments about racial bias in Cricket Australia. He stated that the nation's cricket system has not changed in the last ten years and there is a lack of representation at a high-performance level.
Khawaja, who made history as the first Muslim cricketer to represent Australia in 2011, said that the cricketing landscape in Australia is not changing and it's a major concern for colored players. He added that there is a subconscious bias in the system and that a white coach is more likely to pick a white player just because they have a son that might look similar to him.
The 36-year-old opener also revealed that he did not support cricket in Australia while growing up and that he often feels reminded of the white majority in the sport. He also pointed out that he is subjected to weird security checks even while being in the Australian kit.
Khawaja lost his regular place in the Test squad during the rise of Marnus Labuschagne but made a sensational comeback during the 2021-22 Ashes with back-to-back centuries. He said that although he has been ignored for the selection plenty of times, it has made him have a bigger chip on his shoulder.
"We’ve come a long way. But I’ll keep doing it because I want people to know what it’s like," he added.
