Khawaja’s try to have message of assist and peace signal on his boots was blocked by cricket’s world governing physique.
The Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC) has been slammed for displaying a “lack of ethical standing” after it refused to permit an Australian cricketer to indicate on-field assist for Gaza the place greater than 20,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli assaults.
Australia’s Usman Khawaja had “Freedom is a human proper” and “All lives are equal” written on his boots within the colors of the Palestinian flag in a coaching session forward of the primary match towards Pakistan earlier this month.
In an emotional submit on X, Khawaja later mentioned the ICC “instructed me I can’t put on my footwear on the sector as a result of they imagine it’s a political assertion underneath their pointers”.
He was additionally reprimanded by the ICC for sporting a black armband, which the batter mentioned was for a private bereavement.
The ICC. Could have moved to Dubai however its disgraceful sanctioning of Usman Khawaja for daring to proclaim “ all lives matter” smacks of the haughty out of contact 19 th century views of the Lengthy Room at Lords.
— Paul Bongiorno (@PaulBongiorno) December 22, 2023
His subsequent try – printing a dove and an olive department on his bat and footwear – was additionally blocked by the ICC with a spokesperson for cricket’s world governing physique being quoted by ESPNCricinfo as saying that “private messages of this nature aren’t allowed as per Clause F of the Clothes and Tools Rules”.
“The ICC is supportive of gamers utilizing their platforms outdoors of the enjoying area to advertise human rights, peace and equality and would encourage him to proceed to make use of various platforms,” the ICC spokesperson added.
Khawaja mentioned the emblem, a reference to Article 1 of the Common Declaration of Human Rights, was authorized by Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Affiliation.
“I respect the ICC and the foundations and rules they’ve. I will likely be asking them and contesting they make it honest and equitable for everybody and so they have consistency in how they officiate,” Khawaja mentioned on Friday. “That consistency hasn’t been accomplished but. I used to be very open and sincere with that. I’ll take care of that with the ICC.”
Merely ridiculous.https://t.co/WcKeU2sBEJ
The ICC has denied Usman Khawaja’s newest try to lift consciousness of the humanitarian disaster in Gaza by knocking again his utility to show the picture of a dove and an olive department on his bat and footwear.
— Sushant Singh (@SushantSin) December 24, 2023
In 2014, England all-rounder Moeen Ali was banned by the ICC from sporting wristbands that includes the slogans “Save Gaza” and “Free Palestine”.
Nevertheless, in 2019, Indian cricketers wore military camouflage-style caps in a match towards Australia in solidarity with Indian paramilitary police killed in an assault in Indian-administered Kashmir.
The ICC additionally allowed gamers to “take the knee” earlier than worldwide matches in assist of the Black Lives Matter motion in 2020 and 2021.
Usman Khawaja charged by ICC for sporting a easy black armband in assist of kids in Gaza however the entire Indian group sporting military caps apparently had nothing to do with political/private messages. ICC is probably the most spineless, coward, incompetent sports activities physique on this planet. pic.twitter.com/lwKU3kZOv1
— Hassan (@Gotoxytop2) December 21, 2023
“I’ve been following the Khawaja fiasco and I can’t say I’m stunned by the ICC’s stance,” mentioned former West Indies quick bowler Michael Holding.
“If it had been most different organisations that confirmed some semblance of consistency with their perspective and behavior on points I might declare shock, however not them. As soon as once more, they present their hypocrisy and lack of ethical standing as an organisation.”
“The ICC rules say re messaging ‘approval shall not be granted for messages which relate to political, non secular or racial actions or causes’, so how had been folks allowed to take the knee for BLM and stumps had been lined with LGBTQ colors?”
Whether or not you assist Usman Khawaja’s stance or not the inconsistencies of the ICC are arduous to fathom
Marnus Labuschagne has an eagle & bible verse on his bat
WI’s Nicholas Pooran has a cross and the phrase ‘imagine’ on his bat
Appears a scatter gun strategy re what’s allowed https://t.co/h0shoJ4yke
— Glenn Mitchell (@MitchellGlenn) December 24, 2023
Australian captain Pat Cummins additionally backed Khawaja’s stance and present of assist whereas questioning the ICC’s lack of readability over guidelines that enable gamers to indicate assist for such causes.
“I feel he’s standing up for what he believes and I feel he’s doing it actually respectfully. All lives are equal and I don’t suppose that’s very offensive, and I’d say the identical concerning the dove,” mentioned Cummins.
Israel launched an all-out assault on Gaza after the October 7 assault by Hamas. Along with the 20,000 folks killed within the besieged enclave, greater than 54,000 have been wounded and a whole lot are nonetheless reported to be buried underneath the rubble.