The International Cricket Council (ICC) chastised Australia’s Usman Khawaja on Thursday for wearing a black armband in a Test against Pakistan after the world body’s regulations prohibited him from wearing shoes with messages of solidarity for Gaza.
During training before the first test of the three-match series last week, Khawaja had the slogans “Freedom is a human right” and “All lives are equal” in the colors of the Palestinian flag on his boots.
According to Australian media sources, the Pakistan-born opener wanted to wear the boots during the game but was unable to do so due to ICC rules that restrict statements relating to political, religious, or racial activities or causes.
He donned a black armband instead, and the ICC declared he was in violation of its Clothing and Equipment Regulations.
“Usman displayed a personal message (armband) during the first test match against Pakistan without seeking the prior approval of Cricket Australia and the ICC to display it, as required in the regulations for personal messages,” a representative for the International Cricket Council stated.
“This is a breach under the category of a ‘other breach’ and the sanction for a first offence is a reprimand.”
Khawaja, who scored 41 and 90 in the first test, has said that the messages on his shoes in support of the people of Gaza are not political and has pledged to fight the ICC.
Thousands of Palestinians have been murdered as a result of Israel’s continuing assault on Gaza in response to Hamas’s deadly cross-border raid on October 7.
England all-rounder Moeen Ali, who, like Khawaja, is a Muslim of Pakistani origin, was barred from wearing wristbands with the phrases “Save Gaza” and “Free Palestine” by the International Cricket Council in 2014.
In 2020 and 2021, the ICC did allow players to “take a knee” before international matches in solidarity of the “Black Lives Matter” campaign.
The second Test will commence on December 26.