Usman Khawaja’s appeal against the sanction for him wearing a black armband during the first Test between Australia and Pakistan in Perth, mourning the lives of the children lost amid conflict between Israel and Palestine going on since October last year, has been denied by the International Cricket Council (ICC) according to the reports.
The 37-year-old had initially planned to wear batting spikes with the slogans “all lives are equal” and “freedom is a human right” inscribed for the Test. The messages were in support of Palestinians in Gaza. He had shown off the messages during a training session before the first Test. However, Cricket Australia and the ICC had contacted him to warn him against what they deemed a political message. Khawaja had abandoned the plan to have the messages on his spikes but had sported the black armband instead.
An emotional Usman Khawaja addresses why he's speaking up for human rights issues this summer ☮️ #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/3QDjUWpjgG
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 22, 2023
The ICC reprimanded Khawaja for sporting a black armband on his arm. “The ICC asked me day two (of the Perth Test) what (the black armband) was for, I told them it was for a personal bereavement. I never ever stated it was for anything else,” Khawaja told reporters then. “I respect the ICC and all the regulations they have, I will be asking them and contesting them… From my point of view, that consistency hasn’t been done yet. The shoes were for a different matter, I’m happy to say that, but the armband (reprimand) made no sense to me.”
However, “Khawaja’s reprimand for wearing a black armband onto the field during the first Test against Pakistan in Perth will stand after the International Cricket Council rejected his appeal against the sanction, according to a source close to the situation who wished to remain anonymous ahead of any public announcement being made,” quoted The Sydney Morning Herald on Sunday.
ICC reprimand does not carry a financial or playing penalty. The ICC’s regulations prevent players from displaying messages of political, religious or racial causes during international matches. However, ICC allows cricketers to wear black armbands to mark deaths of former players, family members or other significant individuals after taking prior permission from ICC.
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