AUS vs PAK 1st Test: Aussies opening batter Usman Khawaja has been grabbing headlines this month but not because of his cricketing achievements. Khawaja has been quite vocal with his stance on the war between Israel & Palestine & maintains that peace should be restored in Gaza. He wanted to wear a pair of shoes in the first Test between AUS vs PAK that read “All Lives are Equal”. But at the last moment, the ICC prevented Khawaja from wearing that pair of shoes citing ICC Clothing & Equipment Law.
As per the ICC law, No cricketer can wear anything on the Cricket field except what is allowed within ICC rules. Khawaja posted a video on his social media handle saying that he won’t wear those controversial shoes but will take permission to play with them.
Khawaja further said that people are trying to make it a political matter which is not the case. He highlighted that all that he was saying is that all lives in this world irrespective of race or religion are important & no life especially of children should be lost. The opening batter wore a black armband during the AUS vs PAK 2nd Test. But as per the reports, he didn’t have the permission to wear that armband. Any cricketer gets permission to wear a black armband only when a cricketer is going through a personal bereavement. In Khawaja’s case, it was no such case.
AUS vs PAK 1st Test: What are ICC Guidelines on Clothing & Equipment?
According to the ICC’s guidelines on clothing and equipment, they emphasize that cricket is a unifying force, not a platform for divisive political, religious, or racial causes. Each situation is assessed individually, considering factors like the opinions of relevant teams or individuals, media responses across countries, the duration and nature of the message, and its purpose and impact. These regulations underscore cricket’s role in fostering global unity rather than spotlighting potentially contentious issues or agendas.
What does ICC Guidelines of Clothing & Equipment state, “Each case must be considered on its facts and the ICC will take into account all relevant circumstances, including (as it sees fit): (a) the views of any other relevant team or individual; (b) the likely sentiment and response in the media to the message in all relevant countries; (c) whether the message is a ‘one-off’ or whether it is to be displayed for a longer period; (d) the purpose and impact of conveying the message,” the regulations continue.
Just like Khawaja similar case happened during the World Cup 2003 when Zimbabwe Cricketers Henry Olonga & Andy Flower wore black armbands to protest the happening in their country by the government. At that time also the Zimbabweans were let off by the match referee Malcolm Speed who told the duo that they were in breach but no action was going to take place against them.
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