Aussies have reacted with fury after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made a tribute to controversial retiring cricketer Usman Khawaja following the batman’s accusations of racial discrimination.
Khawaja, a far-left Pakistan-born Muslim, began his 88th and final Test match for Australia on Sunday after announcing his retirement on Friday and complaining at length about being the victim of racism and “islamophobia” throughout his career.
He claimed selectors and critics had treated him differently because of his ethnicity and religion, and defended his controversial left-wing activism by saying he felt compelled to advocate for mass immigration and multiculturalism because he is an immigrant himself.
Many Australians objected to his comments, pointing out he had been allowed into the country, selected at the highest level in cricket, had accommodations made due to his religious opposition to alcohol and gambling, and had amassed a $9 million property portfolio.
But he was praised by Mr Albanese on the morning of the fifth Ashes Test in a social media post that read: “Thank you Usman for everything you’ve done for Australia on the field and everything you’ve meant to Australians off the field.
Thank you Usman for everything you’ve done for Australia on the field and everything you’ve meant to Australians off the field.
You can be proud of your record, your legacy and the example you have set for everyone who will follow in your footsteps. pic.twitter.com/kE1cfSmZUa
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) January 3, 2026
“You can be proud of your record, your legacy and the example you have set for everyone who will follow in your footsteps.”
The post included a photo of the pair shaking hands in front of a Pakistani flag, that was taken at Kirribilli house this time last year, and attracted hundreds of critical comments, including one asking “what’s the Pakistani flag for?”
“He is not a role model. Fancy coming to Australia, getting rich, then crapping on the country that got him there. Like always, you back losers,” wrote popular political commentator Aus Integrity.
“With that victim mentality and hatred of Australia he’d make a great Labor politician hey Albo,” said another.
The implicit political message here is just antiwhitism,” observed a third, while a fourth said “Two individuals actively working to dilute the meaning of Australian identity. Can’t wait to see the back of both of you”, and another wrote: “Two Australia haters.”
Mr Albanese has also been under fire for his response to the Bondi Islamic terrorist attack, including refusing to mention radical Islam, focusing on “right-wing extremism”, and bringing in new “hate speech” and gun laws.
During Khawaja’s lengthy retirement rant he blamed “racism” for the scrutiny over his performance and management of his back issues, prompting former Australian player Jason Gillespie to hit back and say it was not racist to question an athlete’s preparation.
“Being questioned over that and being held to account over your choices, that’s not bullying, it’s not abuse, that’s all part and parcel of being a professional,” he said.
“You can’t really throw a temper tantrum when asked to take accountability for the job you’re actually paid to do.”
Khawaja also complained that despite trying hard to fit in after being selected, he “kept getting dropped from the Australian cricket team”.
“I get it. My name isn’t John Smith. When the 50-50 calls happen, they’re just not going my way,” he said, echoing comments he made in the past that he “didn’t fit the mould” because the team was “very White”, and saying “in the future the Australian team will be represented by a lot of different nationalities”.
Last year Khawaja wrote the introduction to a far-left “islamophobia” report written by the Labor government’s Special Envoy on Combating Islamophobia, in which he claimed Jesus was a “person of colour” and called 9/11 a “tragedy” without mentioning Islamic terrorism.
Header image: Left, Mr Albanese and Usman Khawaja (PMO). Right, Khawaja in a Muslim outfit (Facebook).
The post Anthony Albanese blasted for tribute to Usman Khawaja in front of Pakistani flag first appeared on The Noticer.
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