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New man of Australian cricket Usman Khawaja represents much more | The Australian
THE first Muslim to wear the baggy green will represent his culture proudly.
That's the culture that listens to Wolfmother, spends hours on PCs playing Call of Duty and claims Ricky Ponting is a "legend" who could convince him to jump from a bridge.
Meet Usman Tariq Khawaja, 24, born in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, and rounded off in the outer suburbs of Sydney.
He's funny, friendly, a qualified pilot, good on the back foot, strong outside off stump and so obviously talented that state captain Simon Katich guarantees he "has a long Test career in front of him".
Khawaja has been brought into the side for the Sydney match to replace the injured Ponting.
He was at his family home yesterday when a Cricket Australia representative rang to tell him he was in the squad.
Khawaja said it didn't change his day much. He hung up the phone, switched off the PC and went out and told his father, Tariq, an information technology professional from Islamabad.
"My dad is a man of few emotions so he showed as much as he could," Khawaja said.
Khawaja is an observant Muslim and proud of his heritage, but says he has never felt any different to his teammates. When asked about being the first person of his birthplace and religion to wear the baggy green he was surprised. "That's the first time I have thought about it all day," he said. "Ever since I can remember I wanted to play for Australia and that dream was a long way away when I was younger and it's a lot closer now."
Katich says that the young batsman, who is the leading run-scorer in Shield cricket this year, is a delight to have around the team. "He is probably the most popular bloke in our (NSW) squad and I am pretty sure a lot of the young blokes will back me up on that," he said. "He doesn't drink but the boys don't hold that against him. He will still go out with the boys, socialise, and then he drives them home - he's their taxi. He has a great sense of humour, too."
Khawaja sat by Michael Clarke at a press conference yesterday. The acting captain was sombre and thoughtful, the new batsman lively and entertaining.
Asked where he would like to bat, he replied: "I'll take anywhere in the top 11, to be honest."
THE first Muslim to wear the baggy green will represent his culture proudly.
That's the culture that listens to Wolfmother, spends hours on PCs playing Call of Duty and claims Ricky Ponting is a "legend" who could convince him to jump from a bridge.
Meet Usman Tariq Khawaja, 24, born in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, and rounded off in the outer suburbs of Sydney.
He's funny, friendly, a qualified pilot, good on the back foot, strong outside off stump and so obviously talented that state captain Simon Katich guarantees he "has a long Test career in front of him".
Khawaja has been brought into the side for the Sydney match to replace the injured Ponting.
He was at his family home yesterday when a Cricket Australia representative rang to tell him he was in the squad.
Khawaja said it didn't change his day much. He hung up the phone, switched off the PC and went out and told his father, Tariq, an information technology professional from Islamabad.
"My dad is a man of few emotions so he showed as much as he could," Khawaja said.
Khawaja is an observant Muslim and proud of his heritage, but says he has never felt any different to his teammates. When asked about being the first person of his birthplace and religion to wear the baggy green he was surprised. "That's the first time I have thought about it all day," he said. "Ever since I can remember I wanted to play for Australia and that dream was a long way away when I was younger and it's a lot closer now."
Katich says that the young batsman, who is the leading run-scorer in Shield cricket this year, is a delight to have around the team. "He is probably the most popular bloke in our (NSW) squad and I am pretty sure a lot of the young blokes will back me up on that," he said. "He doesn't drink but the boys don't hold that against him. He will still go out with the boys, socialise, and then he drives them home - he's their taxi. He has a great sense of humour, too."
Khawaja sat by Michael Clarke at a press conference yesterday. The acting captain was sombre and thoughtful, the new batsman lively and entertaining.
Asked where he would like to bat, he replied: "I'll take anywhere in the top 11, to be honest."
