File image of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
| Photo Credit: AP
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has praised Usman Khawaja’s courage amid his standoff with the ICC after expressing solidarity with the victims of the battle between Palestine and Israel.
The ICC has barred the Australian opener from displaying messages of equality and freedom, particularly a dove brand and an olive department on his footwear, through the Test collection in opposition to Pakistan.
The resolution was primarily based on the worldwide regulation that prohibits gamers from showcasing private messages on their uniforms.
But his act has received him an admirer within the nation’s premier who touched upon Khawaja’s gesture throughout an tackle to the Australian and Pakistan groups forward of the Sydney Test.
“I’d like to congratulate (Khawaja) for the courage he has shown standing up for human values,” Albanese mentioned. “He has shown courage, and the fact that the team has backed him in is a great thing.”
Usman Khawaja of Australia sports activities a black armband as he bats through the first cricket Test in opposition to Pakistan in Perth,
| Photo Credit:
AP
“When Ussie and Dave (David Warner) go out, it will be a very special moment, when you walk on to the SCG,” Mr. Albanese added.
The SCG Test will mark the final time Khawaja and Warner can be strolling out collectively to open the innings with the latter retiring from the standard format after the match starting on Wednesday.
Last week, Australian captain Pat Cummins had are available help of his teammate, saying the opener’s try to deliver to the fore the humanitarian disaster in Gaza was “not offensive.”
Cricket’s international governing physique, the ICC, had rejected Khawaja’s utility to have a sticker showing a black dove holding an olive department on his bat and footwear through the Boxing Day Test in opposition to Pakistan.
“We really support Uzzy. He’s standing up for what he believes and I think he’s done it really respectfully,” Cummins had mentioned on the eve of the second Test on the MCG, which Australia received to wrap up the collection.
“As I said last week, ‘All lives are equal’, I don’t think that’s very offensive and I’d say the same about the dove,” Cummins had mentioned.
Notably, the ICC reprimanded Khawaja for carrying a black armband throughout Australia’s 360-run win over Pakistan in Perth, the motion coming after he was barred from carrying boots with the messages “Freedom is a human right” and “All lives are equal” within the colors of the Palestinian flag through the match on the Optus Stadium.
