Usman Khawaja confused for Pakistan player at Brisbane

Usman Khawaja confused for Pakistan player at Brisbane

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Pakistan-born Australian batsman Usman Khawaja has revealed how he faced an issue of mistaken identity when the ground security led him to the Pakistan change room. Khawaja has also opened up about his relation with the Pakistani culture.

Sometime before the media conference on Tuesday when Khawaja was looking for the keys to the Australian change room, he was directed to the Pakistan change room by the ground security staff.

“Actually, funnily enough, I was waiting downstairs and I needed the change room locker to be opened for us and I was just waiting and the Queensland Cricket lady came down.

“She was like ‘Oh, you need the locker rooms open?’ I went ‘yes please’ and she started walking to the Pakistani change room.

“I was like, ‘no, I’m that way, thank you!” Khawaja said.

Born in Pakistan, Khawaja moved to Australia with his parents at a young age and has been staying in Sydney since then. He made his debut in the 2011 Sydney Ashes Test and became the first Muslim cricketer to play for Australia.

On being asked about the emotion of playing against his birth country for the first time in his Test career, the Queensland-captain said, “Maybe for my parents because they grew up in Pakistan and were there for a long time. Obviously, I was born there, so it’s a very close part of me.”

He opened up about his emotional connection with the cultures of both the countries. He said that he speaks Urdu in front of his parents to keep his connection alive.

“Culture is very important, as is religion … not as important as religion obviously.

“My parents are Australian but they’re also very Pakistani. If I broke it down, the way I act and what I do is very Australian. But there are always parts of me when I talk to my parents I still at times try to speak Urdu here and there.

“It’s not as good as them but they can understand what’s going on. It’s a big part of my life when I’m with my parents or around my parents,” he said.

Australia will play the first Test of the series against Pakistan from 15th December and will look to salvage the lost pride after the humiliating series defeat to South Africa.

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