- The Muslim cricket star made a revelation on an ABC television show
- He was asked to bring two of his most prized possessions.
Australian cricket star Usman Khawaja has explained why he would pack away his baggy green cap and leave his copy of the Quran behind in case of emergency in a hilarious and revealing TV interview.
The 37-year-old hitter appeared on the ABC show The Eve of Destruction by Shaun Micalllef On Wednesday night, all guests were asked to bring two of their most prized possessions.
Khawaja chose the famous Australian cricket outfit and his much-read copy of the Islamic holy book and, like all stars who appear on the show, was asked which one he would leave behind if he had to flee a dangerous event.
“It’s actually very easy, I would leave the Quran behind and keep the green bag,” he told Micallef.
‘The Quran has been memorized by millions of people around the world.
“It’s one of the easiest books to access, so I prefer the loose green one.”
Earlier in the show, Khawaja revealed that he makes notes in his copy of the Quran as things occur to him during his regular readings of the famous text, and Micallef asked him if he would be worried about losing them.
“I’m going to make new notes,” he said, causing laughter from the audience.
Usman Khawaja had a well-thought-out reason for saying he would take his baggy green cap and leave his copy of the Quran behind in case of emergency when he appeared on Shaun Micallef’s ABC TV show on Wednesday (pictured)
The star opening batsman (pictured right with teammate Mitchell Marsh) went into detail about his love for Islam’s holiest text.
He also explained how his wife Rachel (pictured at their wedding) continues to give him new perspectives on Muslim life after converting to the religion.
The 73-time Test veteran had a lot to say about his faith and his wife Rachel, who was not born Muslim but converted to the faith in 2017, about a year before their marriage.
“Honestly, the best thing I could have done was to marry someone who had not been raised in Islam,” she said.
‘Rachel is a Muslim, she converted, and the questions she asks are great.
‘I’ve done it (being Muslim) all my life… I do certain things because that’s what I’ve (always) done, and she says, “But then why are you doing this?” and I say, “Actually, that’s a very good question, I don’t know!”
—So, you have a new look and that gives you a new look too? —Micallef asked.
“Yes, it’s been one of the biggest blessings I’ve ever had, because it’s great to see it from a different perspective,” Khawaja said.
“It makes you go and look at it, understand it more, read more about it.”
Khawaja said Rachel often asks him ‘very good questions’ to which he doesn’t know the answers when they talk about Islam.
The star starter also joked about why his baggy green cap is in such poor condition compared to the ones his teammates wear.
“There’s probably more piss on their hats than mine,” he laughed, before quickly explaining that he meant alcohol, not urine.
“I really need to get this straight. Sometimes I forget I’m on TV,” she said.
‘I don’t drink alcohol… I’ve been sprayed with it in the locker room and stuff, but the lads (his teammates) probably don’t spray me as much because they know I don’t drink it.’
In 2022, Khawaja revealed that his teammates stopped their traditional champagne-spraying celebration so he could join in after they won the Ashes series against England.
Rachel had previously been open about her adoption of Islam, which led her to undergo a special Islamic marriage ceremony called a nikah in 2017.
“We brought his family (from Sydney) and my family came and we had an intimate ceremony with the imam,” he explained.
Khawaja popped the question during a horse-drawn carriage ride through New York’s famous Central Park on her 21st birthday in June 2016.