Melbourne. Australian cricket team players are often embroiled in controversies due to their behavior on the field. This time the team’s batsman Usman Khawaja is in discussion. Australia batsman Usman Khawaja, who is facing rebuke from the ICC for wearing a black armband in the first Test against Pakistan, took a big step in this regard on Friday. He said he would challenge it as he had told the ICC that he had done so out of personal grief.
Khawaja wore the black armband during the 360-run win over Pakistan in Perth last week. When he came out for a practice session on 13 December, his batting shoes were emblazoned with ‘All Lives Equal’ and ‘Freedom is a Human Right’. The ICC asked me the day after the Perth Test why I was wearing a black armband and I said it was because of personal grief. I have not said anything other than this.
He said, “I respect the ICC and its rules. I will challenge this decision. The issue of shoes was different. I feel good saying that but there is no point in ranting about handcuffs. I have followed all the rules in the past too. Players stick stickers on their bats, write names on shoes and many other things without ICC permission but they are not reprimanded.
Under ICC rules, cricketers cannot display any kind of political, religious or racist message during international matches. But on the death of ex-players, family members or any important person, a black band can be worn with prior permission. Pakistan-born Khawaja is the first Muslim cricketer to play Tests for Australia.
He said he had no hidden agenda when he came for the practice session. However, slogans written on his shoes refer to the ongoing war in Gaza. He said, I had no agenda. I wanted to highlight something that I am a staunch supporter of and I respectfully did. I have been thinking about what to write about shoes for a long time. I put religion ahead of this. I was talking about the issue of humanity.
Earlier, an ICC spokesperson had said, “Usman gave a personal message (black arm band) in the first match against Pakistan without taking permission from Cricket Australia and ICC. This falls under the other offense category and has been reprimanded as a first offence.
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Tags: Pakistan vs Australia, Usman Khawaja
First published: December 22, 2023, 16:08 IST