Australian opener Usman Khawaja has received a reprimand from the International Cricket Council (ICC) for sporting a black armband to show solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza during Australia's first test match against Pakistan. The ICC's rules prohibit players from exhibiting political, religious, or racial symbols or messages in international matches.
Khawaja, who was born in Pakistan and is the first Muslim to represent Australia in Test cricket, was found to have violated the ICC's clothing and equipment regulations, as confirmed by an ICC spokesperson to the Australian media.
The spokesperson explained, “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.” They added that this constituted a breach and the initial sanction is a reprimand.
This reprimand allows Khawaja to continue playing, albeit with a warning. If he repeats the action in the second test against Pakistan, which begins next Tuesday in Melbourne, he may face further penalties.
Khawaja, while practicing at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday, clarified that the armband signified a "personal bereavement." He plans to challenge the charge but will refrain from wearing the armband in the Melbourne test.
“I respect what the ICC (says) and the rules and regulations they have,” Khawaja stated. He also emphasized the need for fairness and consistency in the application of these regulations by the ICC.
Previously, the 37-year-old had worn shoes with slogans promoting human rights and equality during training before the first test in Perth. The slogans, written in the colors of the Palestinian flag, included "freedom is a human right" and "all lives are equal."
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese voiced his support for Khawaja, noting that the message of equality was not meant as a political statement. “I think Usman Khawaja is a great Australian cricketer and that the position that he put forward is . . . pretty uncontroversial, one that 'all lives are equal' is a sentiment that I think is uncontroversial," Albanese remarked. "Usman Khawaja made his position clear, which is he didn't see it as a political statement.”
Australia triumphed in the first test against Pakistan, winning by 360 runs within four days.
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