Australia batter Usman Khawaja could be punished by the International Cricket Council should he continue to wear black armband during the ongoing Test series against Pakistan.
Khawaja planned to wear shoes with a couple of handwritten messages on them – ‘Freedom is a human right’ and ‘All lives matter’ – as a show of support for the Gaza civilians who’ve lost their lives in the ongoing conflict with Israel.
After being denied permission to do so by the ICC and Cricket Australia, the opening batter decided to wear the black armband.
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Now, Australian media is reporting that Khawaja didn’t get permission to wear the black armband either which is generally used as a gesture of bereavement. However, it requires permission from the ICC to do so.
The 37-year-old though plans to continue his show of support even as reports emerge that ICC and CA have rejected his request to wear black armband during the Melbourne Test against Pakistan that begins on December 26.
While Khawaja isn’t expected to be sanctioned, he may be reprimanded by the ICC should he go ahead with his plan.
Following the uproar caused by his plan over wearing shoes with messages, Khawaja had addressed the issue.
“I’ve noticed what I’ve written on my shoes has caused a little bit of a stir,” Khawaja had said. “I won’t say much, I don’t need to. But what I do want is for everyone who did get offended is to ask yourself these questions: ‘Is freedom not for everyone? Are all lives not equal?
“To me personally it doesn’t matter what race, religion or culture you are. Let’s be honest about it. If me saying ‘all lives are equal’ has resulted in people being offended to the point where they are calling me up and telling me off, well isn’t that the bigger problem?” he added.
He had also denied his messages were politically motivated.
“These people obviously don’t believe in what I’ve written. And it’s not just a handful of people. You’d be shocked about how many feel this way. What I’ve written on my shoes isn’t political. I’m not taking sides. Human life to me is equal. One Jewish life is equal to one Muslim life is equal to one Hindu life, and so on,” Khawaja said.
“I’m just speaking up for those who don’t have a voice. This is close to my heart. When I see thousands of innocent children dying without any repercussions or remorse, I imagine my two girls. What if this was them?” he added.
ICC code of conduct bars players from displaying non-compliant words/logos on clothing or equipment during international matches.
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