Usman Khawaja reveals why he kept debilitating illness a secret
Cricket great Usman Khawaja could barely walk and thought he had a terminal illness when he was just starting out his Test career. He was soon diagnosed with a crippling disease, which he has kept secret for 17 years.
In January 2022, after retiring from international cricket, Usman Khawaja revealed that he had been living with rheumatoid arthritis throughout his professional career. The 39-year-old had kept the debilitating illness a secret from his teammates, friends, and even doctors, fearing that it would end his cricketing dreams. The pain in his left knee was so severe that he feared he had a terminal illness.
Only his childhood cricket buddy David Warner and Test teammate Michael Hussey were aware of his diagnosis. Usman managed his condition using regular injections of a drug he described as a "godsend," which helped him regain his ability to play cricket within six months. His autobiography, Sabr, set to be released soon, aims to inspire those living with autoimmune diseases.
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