>
Visibly emotional, Usman Khawaja thanks his wife for her ‘unconditional love’ during moving Australian Cricket Awards speech after being told to stop by Marnus Labuschagne.
- Usman Khawaja paid tribute to his wife Rachel on stage
- The 35-year-old Test Player of the Year accolade followed.
- Marnus Labuschagne felt that Khawaja’s speech was excessive
Usman Khawaja publicly showed his romantic side when he thanked his wife for her “unconditional love” during an emotional speech at the Australian Cricket Awards night on Monday.
The 36-year-old was crowned Test Player of the Year following a dynamic 2022 at the crease, and was quick to pay tribute to Rachel Khawaja onstage.
‘To my wife, Rachel, you are the rock. You know how much I love you,” she said at the gala event held at Sydney’s Royal Randwick Racecourse.
‘When I was dumped in 2019, you gave me unconditional love. I’m getting emotional thinking about a very difficult time in my life.
You loved me when I played for Australia, you loved me when I played for Queensland, even when I was a ‘club’ playing for ‘Valleys’ you gave me unconditional love.
‘You love Usman Khawaja as a person, not Usman Khawaja as a cricketer, and for that, I am truly in your debt.
Usman Khawaja showed off his romantic side after thanking his wife Rachel for her ‘unconditional love’ during an emotional speech at the Australian Cricket Awards night on Monday.
Ever the prankster, teammate Marnus Labuschagne was seen on camera playfully telling Khawaja to finish his kind words.
Unfazed, the self-proclaimed ‘People’s Champion’ continued his acceptance speech, greeting his daughters Aisha and Ayla before also thanking their parents.
‘Without you, I wouldn’t be standing here right now.’
Always the prankster, teammate Marnus Labuschagne was seen on camera jokingly telling the leadoff hitter to finish with his kind words.
Unfazed, the self-proclaimed ‘People’s Champion’ continued his acceptance speech, thanking his daughters Aisha and Ayla before thanking their parents for leaving a comfortable life in Pakistan as a young man for new opportunities in Australia.
Earlier in the evening, Khawaja also won the Community Impact award.
The Usman Khawaja Foundation helps young people from disadvantaged communities by providing them with education and opportunities in cricket.
Steve Smith took home the coveted Allan Border Medal for the fourth time, tying a record.
The Australian 18-man squad will soon depart for India ahead of the highly anticipated four-test series which kicks off in Nagpur on February 9.