http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Usman-Khawaja-c2729: The first Muslim in Australia’s Cricket Team
Pakistan-born Usman Khawaja has made history by being the first Muslim to get a call up from the Australian national team. He is however not the first player from the subcontinent to make the A-team. That honour goes to Sri Lankan born Dav Whatmore, who played seven Test matches for Australia between 1979-1980.
Usman started out with the U-19’s, winning the player of the Australian U-19 Championship in 2005, and then going on to play in the U-19 Cricket World Cup,2006 in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Victoria-c859 in February 2008. In the same year, Khawaja hit consecutive double centuries - an impressive feat which was never achieved by a New South Wales player.
Andrew Hilditch, who is on the selection panel, clarified that Khawaja’s selection in the squad was because of his impressive form at the state level. In the last season, he scored 698 runs and three centuries.
He went on to praise Khawaja by calling him a “top order batsman” and thought that his inclusion in the squad would help Australia regain the Ashes in this November.
He was born on 18th December, 1986 in Islamabad but moved to Australia when he was only http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 is his country.” Usman has been described by his friends as an intelligent and witty person. He is also a fully qualified pilot, but chose to play cricket instead.
Khawaja’s proud father told reporters how cricket was always his youngest son’s passion. He recalled the early days when Usman and his friend David Warner would play in the park. And even though they were only around four, they were skilled beyond their years. Tariq, while comparing his son to the likes of Ricky Ponting and Michael http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clark-c51118, pointed out that Usman was calm, composed and well-disciplined. “In all my life, since he was six years old, I've never seen him throw a bat in anger after being dismissed”.
Pakistan coach Waqar Younis was also full of praise for Khawaja when he called him a role model for immigrants. Younis lives in Sydney and said he enjoyed watching Khawaja play and predicted that he would go a long way and make a name for himself. But keeping the upcoming match in mind, Younis warned Khawaja not to take the Pakistan team lightly and said they would do everything to keep the brilliant left- handed batsman from scoring too many runs. The two Test series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 are set to go ahead in London on July 13th-17th and in Leeds on July 21st-25th.
Khawaja was somewhat shocked to be selected for the Test series against Pakistan, which is being held in England due to security reasons. “I was a bit shocked, I had a feeling I was close but that could mean absolutely nothing. The feeling didn't really sink in straight away but I've told my family and they're really excited”, he said to Cricket Australia in an interview.
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