Usman Khawaja reveals why he kept arthritis private during Test career

Usman Khawaja has revealed that he kept rheumatoid arthritis private throughout his Test career because he feared the diagnosis would count against him. Speaking in Brisbane on Monday, the former Australia batter described the condition’s impact on his playing life ahead of the release of his autobiography, Sabr, on 10 November, according to Australian Associated Press reporting published by The Guardian.

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Khawaja said he was diagnosed at 22 after pain in his left knee became so severe that he could not walk the short distance to the bathroom. Regular injections enabled him to continue playing, and he said he still receives them, including one the night before his Brisbane appearance. He also linked the condition to increased injuries after the diagnosis and to a back problem late in his career.

His decision to remain silent reflected concerns beyond managing the physical symptoms. Khawaja said he was already confronting stereotypes within Australian cricket and did not want the illness used against him or treated as an excuse. Even a close friend from high school only learned about it a year ago. He thanked those at Cricket NSW, Cricket Australia and the medical staff who knew for respecting his confidentiality.

Khawaja finished his Test career with 6,229 runs and 16 centuries. His final Test was against England at the Sydney Cricket Ground earlier this year. The disclosure adds a previously private account of persistent pain and treatment to that record, with Khawaja describing how he had to find ways to keep his body ready for cricket after the illness emerged.

He wrote the autobiography without a ghostwriter, saying he wanted to tell his own story as a Pakistani Muslim immigrant who went on to represent Australia. The book covers his early life, cricket career and experiences of racial abuse, alongside lighter memories. Khawaja also said he met Australia captain Pat Cummins to discuss the section dealing with the 2018 ball-tampering episode in South Africa.

Khawaja said his aim was to connect with readers beyond cricket rather than produce revelations for their own sake. He also discussed the growing presence of players with subcontinent backgrounds in Australian cricket, naming Jason Sangha, Tanveer Sangha and Gurinder Sandhu. For him, broader representation in the Test side remains an important measure of progress.