![Pat Cummins and Usman Khawaja [Image Credits: X]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1768812637948_PatCumminsandUsmanKhawaja.jpg?type=hq)
Pat Cummins and Usman Khawaja [Image Credits: X]
A few days after Usman Khawaja’s retirement from Test cricket, a new controversy has emerged involving Australian captain Pat Cummins. The issue revolves around a social media discussion that has sparked widespread debate.
Reportedly, an anti-Muslim post shared by a Twitter user named Hindutva Knight harshly criticized Usman Khawaja with what appeared to be anti-Muslim undertones. What escalated the controversy further was the same page later reposting a screenshot allegedly showing Pat Cummins liking the post.
Did Pat Cummins really like the anti-Khawaja post?
Before verifying whether the account was genuinely Pat Cummins’ or not, it is important to understand the original statement made by the Twitter user Hindutva Knight.
Reportedly, the user, who appears to run an account promoting Hindu nationalism, shared an anti-Muslim post targeting Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja and Indian music composer A.R. Rahman.
On January 17, the user alleged Khawaja’s Pakistani-born roots and accused him of being a fraud who received numerous opportunities despite having, according to the user, low Test averages.
The post further claimed that Khawaja stat-padded in ODI and T20I cricket and controversially married an Australian woman, whom the user alleged he converted to Islam. The post also claimed that despite Pat and others respecting Khawaja’s religion, Khawaja referred to Australians as racist during his farewell speech.
While all of this reflected the opinion of the Twitter user, the situation intensified on January 18 when the same user shared a screenshot showing the list of people who had liked the post. According to the screenshot, Cummins’ official Twitter account appeared among those who had liked it.
Reacting to this, the Hindutva Knight user wrote, “LOL, Pat Cummins liked this post. Deep down, even he knows the reality of Porki Khwaja.”
In an era of widespread AI usage and digital manipulation, the authenticity of the screenshot cannot be independently verified, as the visibility of likes and the identity of users who liked a post are often limited.
Nevertheless, if the screenshot is taken at face value, the account shown does appear to be Pat Cummins’ verified account, leaving open the possibility, however slight, that the Australian captain may have interacted with the post.
The relation between Cummins and Usman Khawaja
However, Cummins’ past actions and public stance cast significant doubt on the credibility of this claim. Cummins and Usman Khawaja share a long-standing professional and personal relationship as teammates for both the Australian national team and New South Wales.
Cummins had publicly supported Khawaja when the ICC banned him for wearing a sticker to raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
During the 2021–22 Ashes celebrations, Cummins also made a notable gesture by pausing the traditional champagne celebrations to ensure that Khawaja was not sprayed with alcohol.
He has consistently advocated for Khawaja’s place in the playing XI, even during periods of poor form. As a result, the idea that Cummins would like an anti-Khawaja or anti-Muslim post appears questionable and out of character.
Usman Khawaja’s Australia-bashing in farewell speech
Contrary to Cummins’ affection, Usman Khawaja has openly addressed issues of racial stereotyping and Islamophobia within Australian cricket and broader society, which adds further complexity to the situation.
Khawaja has previously spoken about double standards within the team regarding how he was treated as a teammate. He also highlighted criticism he received for his back injury, which he said was often framed through racial stereotypes.
Khawaja has expressed pride in his Muslim faith and Pakistani heritage, stating that he would never compromise his identity to play for Australia. He also made a direct statement about Australian cricket, saying that it is “still very white in a lot of respects” and needs to work harder on social inclusivity.
While Khawaja’s emotional 50-minute farewell speech was widely regarded as a raw and powerful goodbye, it also sparked significant public debate over the sentiments he expressed.
