Australia’s Khawaja reprimanded by ICC for sporting black armband

Australia’s Usman Khawaja was reprimanded by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday for sporting a black armband after the worldwide physique’s guidelines prevented him from sporting sneakers with messages of assist for Gaza in a take a look at towards Pakistan.

Khawaja had the messages “Freedom is a human right” and “All lives are equal” on his boots within the colors of the Palestinian flag throughout coaching earlier than the opening Test of the three-match collection final week, which the hosts gained by 360 runs in Perth.

The Pakistan-born opener meant to put on the boots within the recreation, in response to Australian media studies, however was unable to take action underneath ICC rules that prohibit messages associated to political, non secular or racial actions or causes.

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He as a substitute wore a black armband and the ICC stated he was in breach its Clothing and Equipment Regulations.

“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,” an ICC spokesperson stated.

“This is a breach under the category of an ‘other breach’ and the sanction for a first offence is a reprimand.”

Khawaja, who scored 41 and 90 within the first take a look at, had stated he believes the statements on his sneakers in assist of the individuals of Gaza weren’t political and vowed to battle the ICC.

Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza in response to the lethal Oct. 7 cross-border assault by Hamas has killed 1000’s of Palestinians.

England all-rounder Moeen Ali, who like Khawaja is a Muslim with Pakistani heritage, was banned by the ICC in 2014 from sporting wristbands that includes the slogans “Save Gaza” and “Free Palestine”.

The ICC did, nonetheless, permit gamers to “take the knee” earlier than worldwide matches in assist of the “Black Lives Matter” motion in 2020 and 2021.

The second Test begins on Dec. 26.