Perth: Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja will not wear shoes with slogans written in support of Palestine to highlight the plight of people in Gaza.
The Australia captain Pat Cummins in a statement revealed that Usman Khawaja has agreed not to wear the shoes displaying human rights messages that he wore during the training session before the Test series against Pakistan.
“Just kind of drew attention to the ICC rules, which I don’t know if Uzzie (Khawaja) was across beforehand,” Pat Cummins said.
During training this week, 36-year-old opening batsman Khawaja wore slogans “Freedom is a human right” and “All lives are equal” handwritten on his boots, which became an issue.
The Pakistan-born Khawaja had allegedly said he would wear boots for the opening Test in Perth
However, the governing body, the International Cricket Council disallowed Khawaja from doing so as its policies ban any message during matches that is related to politics, religion, or race.
Four days ago, Khawaja shared a video from Gaza by the children’s charity UNICEF on Instagram. In the post, Khawaja commented: “Do people not care about innocent people being killed? Or is it the colour of their skin that makes them less important? Or the religion they practice?” he said. “These things should be irrelevant if you really believe that ‘we are all equal” he added.
Today Usman Khawaja took to the social media platform X where he posted a video about the issue. In the video, Khawaja stated, “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.”
All Lives are Equal. Freedom is a Human right. I'm raising my voice for human rights. For a humanitarian appeal. If you see it any other way. That's on you… pic.twitter.com/8eaPnBfUEb
— Usman Khawaja (@Uz_Khawaja) December 13, 2023
He further revealed that the”ICC have told me I can’t wear my shoes on field as they believe it’s a political statement. I don’t believe it’s so, it’s a humanitarian appeal. I will respect their view & decision, but I will fight it and seek to gain approval. Freedom is a human right”
Travis Scott, another Australian player took to social media platform X in support of Usman Khawaja. He posted, “We stand with Usman Khawaja! All lives are Equal.”
We stand with Usman Khawaja!
All lives are Equal. pic.twitter.com/SnJTTtJbRl— Travis Head (@ImTravisHead) December 13, 2023
Speaking earlier on Wednesday, Australian Sports Minister Annika Wells said she believed Khawaja’s boots did not breach ICC rules.
“I think he did it peacefully and respectfully,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted her as saying.
Cricket Australia said in a statement “We support the right of our players to express personal opinions. But the ICC has rules in place which prohibit the display of personal messages which we expect the players to uphold.”
It is worth noting that in 2014, the ICC banned England all-rounder Moeen Ali from wearing “Save Gaza” and “Free Palestine” wristbands during home Tests.
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