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OFFICIAL: USMAN KHAWAJA ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT, CALLING FOR MAJOR CULTURAL CHANGE IN CRICKET

Usman Khawaja announces retirement at the SCG, calling out racial stereotypes and the "white" culture of Australian cricket.

OFFICIAL: Usman Khawaja announces retirement, calling for major cultural change in cricket
Usman Khawaja retires from Test cricket

Usman Khawaja isn’t holding back as he steps away from international cricket. Announcing his retirement, he called out the “racial stereotypes” still hanging around Australian cricket, saying the game is “still very white.” This last Ashes Test in Sydney, his hometown, will be the end of a 15-year run in the Baggy Green. And honestly, he’s going out swinging.

Khawaja, Australia’s first Muslim Test player and born in Pakistan, spoke his mind at the SCG on Friday morning. He didn’t rush it either—he spent more than 45 minutes talking to reporters, saying he was “off the leash now.” You could tell he wanted to get a few things off his chest, especially around the way he’s been treated.

He talked about plenty of old wounds but also pointed to the recent coverage of his back injury during the first match against England. According to him, the way people talked about it, you’d think he was the only player ever to tweak something. He felt like he got singled out unfairly.

“I’ve always felt a bit different, even now,” he said. “Different in how I’ve been treated, different in what’s happened to me.”

He mentioned the back spasms—something he couldn’t control. “The media and old players just came out swinging. I copped it for five days straight, everyone taking shots. Then the old racial stereotypes came in, saying I was lazy. That’s something I’ve heard my whole life. If you’re Pakistani, West Indian, or just a player of colour, suddenly you’re selfish, you don’t care about the team, and you don’t train hard enough.”

He figured people had moved past that stuff, but he’s not so sure now. “All these things came back and made me realise we’re not quite there yet.”

Khawaja pointed out the double standards. “I can name plenty of guys who played golf the day before and got injured. The media didn’t say a thing. Or guys who had fifteen beers the night before got hurt, and nobody batted an eye. That’s just ‘being Aussie blokes,’ right? But when I get hurt, suddenly it’s about my character, who I am as a person. Usually, when someone gets injured, people feel bad for them—‘Poor Josh Hazlewood,’ ‘Poor Nathan Lyon.’ No one goes after their character.”

He finished by saying, “We’ve come a long way as a society; we’re a lot more inclusive than before. But there’s still work to do, because Australian cricket is still very white in a lot of ways.”

KENDRICK BOURNE REVEALS THE STRICT DISCIPLINE THAT SPARKED THE PATRIOTS' TURNAROUND

Kendrick Bourne speaks out! Discover why he thinks Mike Vrabel is the right fit and why he’s eyeing a 2026 return to the 49ers.

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Kendrick Bourne tops the list of receivers San Francisco wants to retain

Kendrick Bourne’s path through the NFL has zigzagged all over – some highs, plenty of lows, and now, another fresh start. He took a shot with the Patriots in 2025 after building his reputation with the 49ers. But honestly, that New England chapter ended before it even got going. Bourne didn’t just slip out the back door. He left with a lot to say about what he saw brewing in New England as Mike Vrabel took charge.

Once Vrabel arrived, you didn’t need to listen for rumours about a culture shift; it was obvious. Bourne noticed right away. He’s already got his eyes set on home, back with the 49ers, but even from a distance, he could see the Patriots were heading somewhere new long before their record showed it.

Talking about his exit from New England, Bourne didn’t sugarcoat anything. Losing the job itself wasn’t the hardest part. What stung was watching Vrabel put his stamp on the team, laying down the kind of structure and discipline Bourne knew would eventually pay off. He was blunt; things just felt different under Vrabel compared to before.

He put it like this: “After going through OTAs and camp with Vrabes, you just knew. Nothing against Mayo, but he just wasn’t ready. With Vrabes, the structure was totally different in how we studied, how we met, and just the whole vibe. Honestly, I was sad about it.”

This wasn’t just a guy being bitter. Bourne respected what was happening in New England and genuinely wished he could have been part of it, especially with a Super Bowl push on the horizon. He even admitted he’d wanted to be in that locker room when the Patriots finally made it back to the big stage.

Now he’s back with the 49ers, hoping to stick around. At 30, Bourne wants a new contract in San Francisco. He had a solid 2025, racked up 551 yards, picked up a contract bonus, and gave the offence a spark. The 49ers needed reliable hands, and Bourne delivered. He’s clear: he wants to stay, but only if the deal makes sense for him.

So now, the offseason gets interesting. Bourne knows where he fits best, but he’s still keeping an eye on what’s building in New England. That mix of looking back and chasing what’s next makes this part of his career one to pay attention to.

MRI SCARE: STEVE KERR ADMITS STEPH CURRY’S "NEBULOUS" KNEE MAY REQUIRE SECOND IMAGING

Warriors crisis! Discover why Steph Curry may need another MRI and how Jimmy Butler’s ACL tear shifts GSW to the play-in.

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Warriors star to undergo new MRI as knee pain lingers

The Warriors have been scrambling since Jimmy Butler went down with that ACL tear. He’s done for the year, and now Stephen Curry has to carry the offence on his own.

Right after the All-Star break, the Warriors are sitting in eighth place out West. That’s already shaky, and now Curry’s dealing with a knee injury too. The team calls it runner's knee; basically, he just needs time to heal. But then Steve Kerr gave an update that didn’t exactly inspire confidence.

Turns out, Curry might need another MRI. He tried to push through a full workout, but his knee just wasn’t right. Now, they’re waiting on imaging to figure out how long he’ll actually be out.

Meanwhile, Kristaps Porzingis still hasn’t suited up for Golden State. If Curry misses significant time, everyone else needs to step up in a big way. The Warriors already have one of the most average offences in the league, 15th at the break. No curry, and things get ugly fast. He’s already missed 16 games this season, and the team went 6-10 without him.

Losing Butler already knocked the Warriors out of serious contention. They’re pretty much locked into the play-in. Unless Curry suddenly goes supernova, it’s hard to see them catching the Thunder or making any real noise out West.

So, what’s next? The front office tried to swing big at the deadline, going after Giannis Antetokounmpo, though who knows if the Bucks ever really considered it. Giannis stayed put, but you can bet the Warriors will chase him again this summer.

If that doesn’t work, they’ll turn to other stars. They know the championship window is closing with Curry still on the roster. He’s still elite, but time’s ticking.

LeBron James even comes up as a possibility. If he declines his player option and hits free agency, maybe he’d team up with Curry for one last run at a ring.

Most likely, though, Golden State will look at trades instead of free agents to try to reload. Curry’s health isn’t what it used to be, and the Warriors know they have to make the most of whatever prime he’s got left.

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