Former Australia batsman Usman Khawaja has revealed allegations of racial abuse directed at him by a member of the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) in the Long Room at Lord’s. The incident followed the contentious dismissal of England’s Jonny Bairstow during the 2023 Ashes series.
Footage by Sky Sports captured Khawaja interacting with MCC members as Australian players faced verbal abuse while returning to their dressing room after the lunch break on the final day of the second Test. Khawaja allegedly paused after hearing a comment, then alerted stewards to the conduct, continuing up the stairs alongside his team-mates.
In his newly released autobiography “Sabr,” Khawaja recounts hearing the phrase “shut up, you Pi,” but admits uncertainty about who exactly uttered it. He expressed how the members’ behaviour reflected a “privileged” and “drunk” attitude. “It was like a pack of dogs about to feast on their next meals. They were in unison, swearing… I couldn’t believe what I was hearing,” he wrote.
Following the incident, the MCC suspended three members for “unacceptable behaviour” immediately post-match, with disciplinary actions extending four months later, resulting in an expulsion and bans of varying lengths for the others involved.
Khawaja also mentioned an incident where a member allegedly tried to trip him and fellow player David Warner as they headed to their dressing room. Despite the aggression, Khawaja downplayed the incident to avoid disrupting Australia’s focus on the game’s final day, citing a desire to not create a “distraction.”
Reacting to the penalties imposed, Khawaja reflected, “I believe they deserve another chance, as long as they’ve learned and are remorseful,” indicating a belief in redemption if genuine remorse is shown.
Australia emerged victorious in the match, securing a 43-run win. Despite Ben Stokes’ valiant attempt at leading England to an unlikely victory, the crowd at Lord’s, incensed by Bairstow’s unconventional stumping by Alex Carey, remained raucous throughout.
The autobiography also reveals insights into the infamous sandpaper incident, stirring further discussion within Australian cricket circles.
Khawaja’s testimony adds a complex layer to an Ashes series already marked by intense exchanges both on and off the pitch.
