Usman Khawaja of Australia bats on the primary day of the primary cricket take a look at between Australia and Pakistan in Perth, Australia, Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023. Khawaja wasn’t allowed to put on footwear branded with an “all lives are equal” humanitarian message, so he wore a black arm band as an alternative on Day 1 of the series-opening cricket take a look at towards Pakistan.
Richard Wainwright/AAP Picture by way of AP
PERTH, Australia (AP) — Australia batter Usman Khawaja wasn’t allowed to put on footwear branded together with his “all lives are equal” humanitarian message, so he wore a black arm band as an alternative Thursday on Day 1 of the series-opening cricket take a look at towards Pakistan.
The Worldwide Cricket Council intervened on Wednesday after Khawaja indicated he deliberate to put on footwear throughout the match that featured messages to spotlight the lack of harmless lives within the Israel-Hamas war.
The ICC’s insurance policies for worldwide cricket prohibit shows of political or spiritual statements on crew uniforms or gear.
Khawaja stated he’d abide by the ruling to keep away from particular person or crew sanctions, however would problem the ICC’s stance.
“ Freedom is a human right, and all rights are equal,” Khawaja said in a social media publish. “I’ll by no means cease believing that.”
Australia batted first within the five-day match, and Khawaja and fellow Australian opener David Warner strode to the pitch together with the Pakistan fielders.
Khawaja, who was born in Pakistan and is the primary Muslim to play take a look at cricket for Australia, wore the black armband to point out solidary with folks struggling in Gaza.
He stated what he’d written on his footwear wasn’t political and he wasn’t aiming to be divisive.
“I’m not taking sides. Human life to me in equal,” Khawaja posted in a video on X, previously often called Twitter. “I’m simply talking up for many who don’t have a voice. That is near my coronary heart.”
He scored 41 runs in a 126-run opening partnership with Warner earlier than he was caught behind from the bowling of Shaheen Shah Afridi within the thirtieth over and needed to depart the sphere.
In earlier pre-game TV interviews, he stated there’d been precedents the place cricketers had been allowed to point out help for different causes.
“I discover it just a little bit disappointing they got here down onerous on me they usually don’t at all times come down onerous on everybody,” Khawaja stated.
The 36-year-old batter had some high-level help, together with from Australia’s cricket captain Pat Cummins and even as much as the nation’s federal treasurer, Jim Chalmers.
“What was on the footwear — all lives are equal — I help that,” Cummins stated. “That’s not very divisive. I don’t suppose anybody can actually have too many complaints about that.”
Chalmers advised the Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio that the ICC ought to permit Khawaja to put on the footwear.
“I don’t suppose it’s an particularly controversial assertion and I discover it uncommon frankly that individuals need to dispute that,” he stated. “The lives on one facet of a battle will not be value anymore or any lower than the lives on the opposite facet of a battle.”
The Israel-Hamas struggle has resulted within the deaths of over 18,400 Palestinians, in keeping with the Health Ministry in the Hamas-controlled territory, which doesn’t differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths. Israel says 113 of its troopers have died in its floor offensive after Hamas raided southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 folks, principally civilians, and taking about 240 hostages.
