Usman Khawaja says his mother was abused at Boxing Day Test for wearing a hijab

Australia Test opener Usman Khawaja has revealed that his mother was subjected to abuse at last year’s Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground because she was wearing a hijab, and said he kept the incident private until contributing a foreword to a government report on Islamophobia.

Khawaja wrote that during the MCG match two young men walked behind his mother and "scream[ed] obscenities in both ears, simply because she was wearing a hijab." He said a security guard witnessed the incident, the men were detained and police were called, but his mother, frightened and upset, did not want to take the matter further.

"She was terrified. My mum was distraught," Khawaja wrote. "She did not know what to do as she was extremely frightened, shocked and upset by the incident. A security guard saw everything. The guys were detained and the police were called and they were taken away. But god bless my mum's soul. She didn't want to proceed any further. 'I don't want to ruin the rest of these boys' lives over one incident' she told me. I was furious that someone treated my mum that way but I respected my mum's wishes and we kept it quiet and hidden even from my team-mates."

Khawaja said he has taken extra precautions to protect his parents in public since becoming a prominent player, including deliberately walking slightly behind them so he can see and respond if someone acts with hostility. "Many times, I purposely walk slightly behind my parents in case someone tries to do something out of hate, just so I can see and respond and defend them adequately," he wrote.

In the foreword to the government report A National Response to Islamophobia, Khawaja reflected on the visibility of Muslim women who wear the hijab and the vulnerability that can create. "I believe there is nothing more difficult than being a hijab wearing Muslim," he wrote. "They literally wear their religion on their sleeves. As a Muslim man, no-one knows what I am ... but a Muslim woman who covers her hair is out there for the world to see; she can't hide and she automatically becomes a target for hate and prejudice."

Khawaja, born in Pakistan, became the first Australian Muslim to play Test cricket for his country. He has played more than 70 Tests, scored in excess of 5,000 runs at an average above 45 and has three Ashes centuries to his name. Throughout his career he has spoken publicly about encountering abuse and prejudice tied to his background and faith and has become an outspoken advocate for inclusion and diversity in Australian sport.

The revelation comes as England prepares to tour Australia for the upcoming Ashes series, in which Khawaja is expected to play a key role for the home side. The player’s account in the report underscores concerns about Islamophobia at public events and in everyday life, and highlights the personal impact on individuals and families who are targeted because of their religion or appearance.

Khawaja’s decision to share the episode in the government document adds a high-profile example to public discussion about religiously motivated harassment. He characterized his mother’s response, rooted in mercy, as inspirational and wrote that the episode was a reminder that "don't tell me Islamophobia doesn't exist. The actions of those two individuals was purely based on hate and creating fear."