Usman Khawaja, an Australian cricket player, opted against carrying out his original plan to have supportive slogans for the Palestinian people in Gaza inscribed on his shoes for Thursday’s first Test match against Pakistan at Optus Stadium in Perth. Instead, when he stepped up to bat, the cricket player decided to don a black armband. Scroll down to read Usman Khawaja Wears a Black Armband in Support of Gaza.
Usman Khawaja Wears A Black Armband In Support Of Gaza
During the Australian cricket team’s practice on Tuesday, in advance of the first Test match against Pakistan, the opener, who was born in Pakistan, displayed phrases like “All lives are equal” and “Freedom is a human right,” printed on his playing shoes in the colors of the Palestinian flag.
When questioned by journalists, Usman said that he intended to wear the inscriptions on his shoes during the match against Pakistan. However, Australian captain Pat Cummins revealed to the media on Wednesday that the athlete has changed his mind. “Some words were written on his shoes. I consider the fact that each member of our team has unique opinions and perspectives to be one of our greatest assets. I had a quick conversation about it with Ussie (Khawaja) today. He probably didn’t mean to cause too much of a stir, but we still stand with him. “He stated that he would not be wearing them,” Cummins informed reporters.
He continued, “I believe he said ‘all lives are equal. That doesn’t seem to be that polarizing. Nobody could have too many complaints about that, in my opinion. Every life is valuable. I agree with that. I don’t know if he was aware of the ICC rules before this, but I believe it brought them to light.”
Why did Khawaja decide not to wear shoes bearing supportive messages for the people of Gaza?
It seems that Cricket Australia reminded Khawaja of the regulations set down by the International Cricket Council.
Although Cricket Australia stated on Wednesday that they supported Khawaja’s right to show support for the Gaza Stripe people, they also stated: “We support our players’ right to express personal opinions, but we expect players to uphold the rules that the ICC has put in place that prohibit the display of personal messages.”
At least 18,205 Palestinians have died as a result of Israel’s war on Gaza, which began in retaliation for Hamas’s October 7 bombings, according to data released by Gaza’s health ministry.
Khawaja has voiced concerns over the matter on his social media platforms. He recently commented on a UNICEF video that he posted on Instagram, asking, “Do people not care about innocent humans being killed? Or do they become less significant because of the color of their skin? or the faith they follow? Those who genuinely believe that “we are all equal” should disregard these facts.
What has Khawaja stated regarding the matter?
Khawaja addressed the issue on social media, writing, “I’ve noticed what I wrote on my shoes has caused a little bit of a stir.” I don’t need to say anything, so I won’t. Does not everyone deserve freedom? Do not all lives have equal value? It doesn’t matter what color, religion, or culture someone belongs to, in my opinion. Let’s speak the truth about it. Isn’t it a greater issue if my statement that “all lives are equal” has offended folks to the extent that they’re calling me to voice their concerns? My writing in my shoes is not political. I don’t support any side. I view all human lives as equal. One life is equal to those of Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and so forth. Simply put, I’m speaking up for people without a voice,” he remarked.
The Australian opener continued, “I imagined my two girls when I saw thousands of innocent children dying without any repercussions or remorse. How could this be them? Nobody gets to pick their birthplace. Then I saw the entire world abandoning them. It’s too much for my heart. I already felt that, as I was growing up, my life wasn’t on par with others. Fortunately, though, I never lived in a world where that inequality meant the difference between life and death. I’ve been informed by the ICC that I am not permitted to wear my shoes on the field because, in their opinion, doing so would constitute a political statement. That is not true, in my opinion; it is a humanitarian call.”
What has Khawaja said about wearing the armband?
Fox Cricket questioned Khawaja about abandoning his strategy regarding the messages on his shoes before he took the field to bat.
Khawaja said, “I simply believe that a lot of things have happened in the past that establish precedents. I mean, I wholeheartedly endorse Black Lives Matter. Numerous men have already written on their shoes. Some guys wear religious symbols on their gear, which isn’t officially permitted according to ICC regulations. I found it a little disappointing that the ICC came down harshly on me when they don’t always come down hard on everyone else, but the ICC never says anything about that. That was most likely the annoying aspect.”
What is stated in the ICC Code of Conduct?
According to the ICC’s Code of Conduct, players are not allowed to wear, show off, or transmit messages through arm bands or other items on apparel or equipment without permission. Posts discussing political, religious, or racial issues are not permitted.
According to the ICC’s most recent regulations, “the starting point is that the ICC and its members acknowledge and agree that cricket should be used as a tool to bring people and communities around the world together and not as a platform to draw attention to potentially divisive political issues, rhetoric, or agendas.” This is how one determines whether a message is for a “political, religious, or racial cause.”
Have other cricket players tried making a statement on the pitch or writing messages on their gear?
The International Cricket Council (ICC) banned England batsman Moeen Ali from wearing wristbands with the phrases “Save Gaza” and “Free Palestine” almost ten years ago. During the 2014 Southampton Test match against India, Ali expressed a desire to don the wristbands. The England and Wales Cricket Board first approved it. However, Australia’s David Boon, the ICC match referee, later outlawed the use of wristbands throughout the Test.
It should be mentioned that the Men in Blue kneeled in support of the Black Lives Matter movement during India vs. Pakistan’s T20 World Cup match.
