Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja decided to contest the accusation made by ICC that he violated the code of conduct by wearing the black armband on his arm during the Test match against Pakistan.
Khawaja had worn an armband on his arm as a sign of protest against the ongoing Israeli aggression against the people of Palestine and Gaza. He originally had planned to wear sneakers with a message calling for freedom, peace, and equal rights for everyone.
The slogans read, “All lives are equal” and “Freedom is a human right.” However, the ICC deemed these slogans as violating its rules of political remarks. Consenting to the ICC objections, Khwaja decided to wear a simple black armband.
Responding to the allegations by ICC, Usman Khawaja said, “The shoes were a different matter, but the armband… I followed all regulations and past precedents.”
“They asked me on day two [in Perth] what it was for and told them it was for a personal bereavement,” he said of the armband. “I never ever stated it was for anything else. The shoes were a different matter, I’m happy to say that. The armband makes no sense to me. I followed all the regulations,
past precedents, guys that put stickers on their bats, names on their shoes, done all sorts of things in the past without ICC approval and never been reprimanded.
“I respect the ICC and the rules and regulations they have. I will be asking them and contesting they make it fair and equitable for everyone and they have consistency in how they officiate. That consistency hasn’t been done yet. I was very open and honest with that. I’ll deal with that with the ICC.”
Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley said they’re talking to the ICC about letting Khawaja share his message, but it’s not certain if an agreement will be reached before the Boxing Day Test.
