Cummins wins hearts with Usman act

CAPTAINCY is about much more than just bowling changes and batting orders, as Pat Cummins demonstrated amid the euphoria of Australia’s Ashes celebrations.

As teammates popped champagne bottles on the victory dais, Australia’s first Muslim Test cricketer Usman Khawaja leapt away to avoid being doused with alcohol, in keeping with his religious beliefs.

Cummins realised immediately what had happened and quickly prompted teammates to put down their bottles as he purposefully motioned Khawaja back to his side in the huddle to be part of the signature photograph moment with the Waterford crystal urn.

“Usman’s Muslim so doesn’t like the champagne being thrown,” Cummins said. “Made sure he got up there and no champagne was thrown.”

It was obvious to Cummins what needed to be done, but for Australia’s Muslim community, the leadership was being lauded as a poignant moment for cricket in Australia.

Fox Cricket expert and England’s first Asian cricketer, Isa Guha, praised Cummins, while leading journalist Bharat Sundaresan also gave credit to Khawaja for his selflessness in letting teammates celebrate in the manner they enjoyed.

Khawaja has spoken extensively in the past about how he struggled as a young Muslim cricketer trying to fit in with the drinking culture of Australian cricket dressing rooms.

The 35-year-old is a role model for young subcontinental cricketers and actively involved with Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association in pushing for the game to become more inclusive and diverse.