The Australian T20 Cricket Team poses for {a photograph} forward of the match, at Raipury, on December 1, 2023.
| Photo Credit: R. V. Moorthy
Khawaja sported messages on his boots conveying the emotions “Freedom is a fundamental human right” and “All lives possess equal value,” each written within the hues of the Palestinian flag.
Cricket Australia stated on December 13 they backed Usman Khawaja’s proper to categorical his support for the individuals of Gaza however anticipated him to conform to International Cricket Council (ICC) rules banning shows on his taking part in tools.
Usman Khawaja from Australian Cricket Team.
| Photo Credit:
Getty Images
Batter Khawaja had the messages “Freedom is a human right” and “All lives are equal” written on his boots within the colors of the Palestinian flag in Tuesday’s coaching for the primary take a look at in opposition to Pakistan.
According to Australian media experiences, the Pakistan-born opener meant to put on the boots through the match, which begins at Perth Stadium on Thursday.
“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,” Cricket Australia stated in an announcement.
Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza in response to the lethal October 7 cross-border assaults by Hamas has killed at the very least 18,205 Palestinians, in accordance to the Gaza Health Ministry.
The ICC Code of Conduct forbids gamers sporting, displaying or conveying messages by means of arm bands or different objects on clothes or tools with out prior approval. Messages associated to political, non secular or racial actions or causes should not allowed.
England batsman Moeen Ali was banned by the ICC in 2014 from sporting wristbands that includes the slogans “Save Gaza” and “Free Palestine”.
The ICC did, nevertheless, permit gamers to “take the knee” earlier than worldwide matches in support of the ‘Black Lives Matter’ motion in 2020 and 2021. There was no fast reply to a request for touch upon the matter from the ICC.
Australia’s Sports Minister Anika Wells, nevertheless, gave Khawaja her full backing, “I have always advocated for athletes having the right to a voice and to speak up on matters important to them,” she informed native media.
She provides, “Usman Khawaja is a great athlete and a great Australian. He should have every right to speak up on matters that are important to him. He has done so in a peaceful and respectful way. He has done so as an individual and expressed an individual opinion that does not compromise the Australian cricket team’s obligations to the ICC.”
