West Indies bowling legend Michael Holding slammed the International Cricket Council (ICC) for their 'hypocritical' approach towards Usman Khawaja.
The Aussie cricketer had requested the ICC to allow him to wear shoes with "all lives are equal" and "freedom is a human right" written on them as a show of solidarity for people suffering due to the Israel-Hamas conflict but the request was turned down by cricket's apex body.
Khawaja then wore a black armband during the first Test match against Pakistan in Perth as a mark of protest. As a result, ICC charged him with breaching its regulations.
'I cannot say I'm surprised by the ICC's stance. Once again, they show their hypocrisy and lack of moral standing as an organisation,' Holding told The Weekend Australian.
'The ICC regulations say re messaging 'approval shall not be granted for messages which relate to political, religious or racial activities or causes'. So how the f*** people were allowed to take a knee for BLM and stumps were covered with LGBTQ colours?" he questioned.
According to reports, Khawaja has been denied permission to place a peace symbol on his bat and shoes for the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan.