"Never in my wildest dreams..." - Usman Khawaja breaks silence on his retirement
Published - 17 May 2024, 04:31 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:11 AM
Australia's Test specialist Usman Khawaja believes that he still has a couple of years of Cricket left in him at the age of 37.
In a recent interview, Usman Khawaja revealed his plans to keep his cricketing career going at the highest level and turn up with good performances for Australia. Earlier this year, Khawaja's long-time Test opening pair David Warner called time on his red-ball career before also opting to retire from the white-ball formats.
Warner retired from Test cricket at the age of 37 and Usman Khawaja is still going strong at the age of 37. A few months ago, Khawaja was adjudged as 2023's Test Cricketer of the Year by ICC for his exceptional performances throughout the calendar year.
His role was imperative in Australia's bid for a top 2 finish at the ICC World Test Championship 2021-23 table before winning the prestigious award in the finals.
What did Usman Khawaja say about his red-ball future
While speaking to Wide World of Sports recently, Usman Khawaja expressed his high hopes to continue for Australia at the highest level. Khawaja claimed that he is in very good form, he is able to play every single game, he is able to enjoy himself and most importantly, he has the belief to keep scoring runs at the highest level.
For Khawaja, winning the ICC Test Player of the Year was something he had never expected even in his wildest dreams. That too after a few years of hiatus from the red-ball side of the baggy greens.
"I’m still in good nick! I’m playing every game, I reckon I’m doing all right! But honestly, I’m still enjoying the games, I feel like I can still perform at the highest level. I just won ICC Test Player of the Year."
"Never in my wildest dreams would I have expected to win that, particularly two or three years ago when I was out of the Test side," Khawaja told Wide World of Sports.
Usman Khawaja says he doesn't know when to retire
Usman Khawaja further added that he has not set a particular timeline as to when he will hang up his boots. He admitted that he is not a believer in thinking too much about what the future holds and that he is at peace with the fact that he might have 1, 2, or 3 years of Test cricket left.
The most important thing for Khawaja is that he is able to wake up every morning, embrace the positivity of life, and enjoy playing cricket for Australia.
"A lot has happened since then, and I’m enjoying playing in this cricket team right now. I feel like I can continue to do it for the foreseeable future, but I never look too far ahead."
"So whether that’s one, two, or three years, I have no idea. I’m sort of just rolling with it now, but I’m not giving myself a timeline. Every day is a gift. I’m just really just enjoying playing for Australia and being a part of the process every single day," Usman Khawaja concluded
