Cricketer Usman Khawaja's Secret Battle with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Cricket legend Usman Khawaja has revealed that he played 88 Tests for Australia while secretly battling a debilitating illness that could have ended his career before it started.

Khawaja, 39, was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 22, but kept the condition hidden from his teammates, including close friends David Warner and Michael Hussey.

A Life-Changing Diagnosis

Khawaja's journey with rheumatoid arthritis began when doctors struggled to diagnose the cause of severe pain in his left knee. The uncertainty was terrifying for the young cricketer.

"I genuinely thought I was going to die," Khawaja said. "I went from this athlete who was playing professional cricket to not being able to walk 10 metres to the bathroom."

Despite his condition, Khawaja managed to play a successful career, scoring 6,229 Test runs, including 16 centuries, and becoming the first Pakistani-born person to play Test cricket for Australia.

Breaking Moulds and Barriers

Khawaja's career was marked by his resilience and determination. He was dropped from the Australian team eight times but always found his way back, eventually becoming a key player in the team.

Todd Greenberg, Cricket Australia's CEO, praised Khawaja's impact on the sport, saying, "He's broken the mould in so many different ways. He'll leave the culture of Australian cricket in far better shape than what he found it."

Giving Hope to Others

Khawaja is now using his platform to give hope to those living with autoimmune diseases, detailing his health battle in his upcoming autobiography, Sabr.

"If a person can play at the top level … as a professional cricketer with rheumatoid arthritis, then I think a lot of other people can achieve a lot, too," Khawaja said.

Khawaja credits a regular injection of a drug with managing his condition, calling it a "godsend" that allowed him to continue playing cricket.

"Without that drug," Khawaja said, "I would never have played cricket ever again or even lived a normal life again."

A Career Marked by Perseverance

Khawaja's career was not without its challenges. He faced racial and religious vilification, which led him to speak out about discrimination in cricket and beyond.

Khawaja's experience of being a Pakistani-born Muslim cricketer in a predominantly Australian team also shaped his perspective on the sport and its culture.

"As great cricketers as they were," Khawaja said of the Australian team of the early 1990s, "it kind of felt like that bogan vibe, that same vibe [from those] parents."

However, Khawaja found his place in the team with the arrival of players like Adam Gilchrist and Brett Lee, and went on to have a successful and influential career.

Love and Support

Khawaja also credits his wife, Rachel, with providing him the support he needed to elevate his career.

"I just could not stop scoring runs," Khawaja said. "It was 100 per cent because of Rachel. I was absolutely, head over heels, madly in love. I was so happy off the field."