On Monday, Australia captain Pat Cummins endorsed Usman Khawaja, the star opener, stating that his effort to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza was “not offensive.”
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has denied Khawaja permission to wear a decal depicting a black dove grasping an olive branch on his shoes and bat during the second Test against Pakistan. The sticker in question features an olive branch.
Additionally, the logo featured the inscription 01:UDHR, which made reference to Article One of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He displayed it during training on Sunday.
A Muslim of 36 years, the individual was prohibited from donning footwear bearing handwritten inscriptions reading “All lives are equal” and “Freedom is a human right” during the initial Test in Perth.
The ICC stated that they violated its regulations regarding political, religious, and racial messages.
“We are extremely for Uzzy.” “I believe he has done so in a very respectful manner by standing up for his beliefs,” Cummins told reporters prior to the Melbourne Test.
“Contrary to what I stated a week ago, the statement ‘All lives are equal’ does not strike me as overly objectionable, and the dove is no exception.
“That individual is Uzzy. I believe he can hold himself in high regard for the manner in which he has approached the situation.
“However, it is clear that regulations are in effect, and I presume the ICC has stated that they will not sanction that. The rules are arbitrary and must be accepted.
Khawaja was reprimanded by the ICC for donning a black armband during the Perth Test; however, he maintained that it was for a “personal bereavement” and not for political reasons.
He discussed the impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on himself last week.
“When I’m looking at my Instagram and seeing innocent kids, videos of them dying, passing away, that’s what hit me the hardest,” according to him.
“I don’t have any agendas other than trying to shine a light on what I feel really passionately, really strongly about.”