Author: News Desk

Australian Test cricketer Usman Khawaja’s family has become targets of an online abuse campaign following the tragic Bondi Beach attack, his wife Rachel Khawaja has revealed.

As per the details, the attack has heightened anti-Islamic sentiments in Australia after it was revealed that the shooters, father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram, were linked to the Islamic State.

Amid the Islamophobia spike, Rachel Khawaja posted on her Instagram some of the comments directed at her daughters Aisha and Ayla, and herself, on social media.

“I’ve collected a small sample size of some of the comments we have received over the past week,” she posted. 

“I would love to say this is new, but sadly we have always received these kind of messages. But of course, they have gotten worse.”

The shocking comments called their daughters “future school blasters” and said they had “cancer terr***** blood”. Numerous comments told the family to “go home” to Pakistan.

“It is important now more than ever that we continue to come together and stay united,” Rachel posted. “Whether it’s standing up against antisemitism, Islamophobia and racism, we shouldn’t stand for any of it.”

Khawaja, who was born in Islamabad, and moved to Australia with his family at the age of five, has spoken openly about his Islamic faith throughout his international career. 

He has publicly addressed Islamophobia, including speaking about abuse directed at Muslim athletes and the need for greater understanding and inclusion in sports.

He also issues several statements on Instagram in response to the Bondi tragedy.

“Truly devastating news from Bondi today,” he posted with a broken-heart emoji. “Lives lost senselessly, families shattered, the Bondi community traumatised. There are no words – only heartbreak. My thoughts and prayers to all affected.”

On Monday morning, Khawaja shared another message. “Up before the break of dawn and praying for the Jewish and Bondi community as a whole,” he posted.

“No room whatsoever for these hate crimes.”

During his career, Khawaja has also made several statements focused on human rights, specially against Israeli genocide in Gaza, with messages such as “all lives are equal” and “freedom is a human right” written on his shoes during the 2023 Test series against Pakistan.

On December 14, 2025, two gunmen opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration at Archer Park near Bondi Beach. 

The attack killed 15 people and wounded more than 40 others.

The suspects were identified as 50-year-old Sajid Akram and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram.

During the attack, Ahmed al-Ahmed, a local fruit shop owner, rushed Sajid Akram and wrestled his shotgun away. Sajid Akram was shot and killed by police at the scene, while his son Naveed Akram was wounded by police and taken into custody. 

The England Cricket Board (ECB) has promised to investigate reports of excessive drinking by England players during their recent break in Australia.

ECB Managing Director Rob Key confirmed that the board will look into the matter after English cricketers spent six days at the coastal resort of Noosa, Queensland, following their defeats in the first two Ashes Tests and before the Adelaide Test.

Reports emerged in British and Australian media that England players indulged in heavy drinking throughout their stay at the popular beach destination, raising questions about the team’s professionalism during a crucial tour.

“Stories of players drinking six days solid and that’s unacceptable,” Key told a foreign media outlet. “We’ll be looking into seeing what the facts are as opposed to the things that have been embellished or elaborated on.”

Key explained that the situation requires careful examination. “When you see a picture of five or six guys sitting down for lunch, a couple of them having drinks, you need to see what’s going on with that,” he said.

“Headlines can be misleading at times, saying it’s a stag do and stuff like that,” Key added. “If it’s true that it became a stag do and people are out drinking all the time excessively, that’s not acceptable. I don’t agree with a drinking culture. I don’t like a drinking culture.”

Prior to the Ashes series, Key had urged England’s squad to not “get caught doing stupid things.”

When asked about criticism directed at Head Coach Brendon McCullum following the defeats, Key defended his coach. “McCullum is a good coach and his Test record is strong,” he said.

Australia wrapped up an 82-run victory on day five of the third Test in Adelaide on Sunday to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series and retain the urn. England had already suffered eight-wicket defeats in both Perth and Brisbane before the Adelaide loss.

The fourth Test of the series begins on December 26, in Melbourne, where England will attempt to salvage some pride from a disappointing tour.

Former Pakistani fast bowler and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Director of High Performance Aqib Javed has revealed that India contacted Pakistan seeking guidance for their fast bowlers.

Javed, who also serves as a member of the national selection committee, revealed this during a podcast with PCB, where he also discussed Pakistan cricket, the high-performance structure, PCB’s Overseas Players Program and long-term planning in detail.

“We have been receiving phone calls from India as well, and they have requested guidance for their fast bowlers,” Javed disclosed, adding that the program will expand globally in the future.

According to Javed, India contacted through the PCB’s Overseas Players Program, which provides coaching and training opportunities to cricketers from around the world.

“Foreign players can now come to Pakistan for training, and we have already hosted players from the Netherlands and England,” he added.

During the conversation, Aqib Javed spoke about the role of the National High Performance Centre and described it as the PCB’s “engine room” for player development.

“We have big plans for the National Cricket Academy (NCA), which include establishing a fully functional biomechanics laboratory,” he said.

The veteran cricketer emphasised that the initiative represents Pakistan’s growing reputation as a centre of excellence for cricket coaching, particularly in fast bowling development — an area where Pakistan has produced some of the world’s finest talents over the decades.