After being denied permission to put a dove of peace on his bat during the Boxing Day Test, Australia opener Usman Khawaja has again accused the International Cricket Council (ICC) of double standards.
The Pakistan-born Khawaja, who has been vocal in his support for the people of Gaza throughout the current violence there, was chastised for wearing a black armband in the first test against Pakistan earlier this month in Perth.
He had wanted to convey his support by writing “Freedom is a human right” and “All lives are equal” on his boots in the colors of the Palestinian flag, but that gesture was also prohibited by ICC rules.
Khawaja collaborated with Cricket Australia on a novel approach to demonstrate his support, with the dove on his bat followed with the word “01: UDHR” in reference to the first article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The ICC, according to The Australian, also refused to allow him to display the message.
The ICC did not respond immediately to a request for comment on the subject.
Khawaja shared photographs of other international players with religious symbols and slogans on their bats on Instagram late on the eve of the second test against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
“Merry Christmas everybody, sometimes you just gotta laugh … #inconsistent #doublestandards,” he added in the bottom left corner.
The International Cricket Council’s Code of Conduct prohibits players from wearing, exhibiting, or transmitting statements via arm bands or other things on clothes or equipment without prior consent, particularly for “political, religious, or racial” purposes.
According to the Gaza health ministry, Israel’s continuing assault on Gaza in response to Hamas’s deadly cross-border strikes on October 7 has killed at least 20,700 Palestinians.
Australia captain Pat Cummins stated on Monday that the squad understood Khawaja’s wish to demonstrate solidarity with the people of Gaza.
“I don’t know the ins and outs of the application, but I think it is pretty vanilla, a dove,” he was quoted as saying.
“We really support Uzzy, I think he’s standing up for what he believes and I think he’s doing it really respectfully,” he was quoted as saying.
“He can hold his head high with the way he’s gone about it, but there are rules in place, and I believe the ICC has stated that they will not approve that.” They create the rules, and you have to follow them.”