Usman Khawaja has responded to ‘double standards’ by the International Cricket Council, after being told he can’t wear a dove sticker on his bat and shoes in the Boxing Day Test after displaying them at training on Sunday.
The stickers featured a black dove, the international symbol for peace, on an olive branch but the ICC has already told the Australian opening batter that he would again be in breach of its guidelines if they appeared on his equipment during Tuesday’s match at the MCG against Pakistan.
In reply, Khawaja took to Instagram to point out the ICC’s hypocrisy in enforcing its equipment rules, including pictures of a series of other international players, including teammate Marnus Labuschagne, who have featured symbols on their bats without the sporting body stepping in.
“Merry Christmas everybody. Sometimes you just gotta laugh. Cya at Boxing Day! #inconsistent #doublestandards” Khawaja wrote.
Australian captain Pat Cummins backed Khawaja over the ban, describing the dove symbol as ‘pretty vanilla’ and supporting his teammate’s right to have strong beliefs.
“We really support Uzzy. He’s standing up for what he believes and I think he’s done it really respectfully,” Cummins said.
“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.
“That’s Uzzy. I think he can really hold his head high with the way he’s gone about it.
“But obviously there’s rules in place and I believe the ICC have said they’re not going to approve that. They make up the rules and you’ve got to accept it.”
Khawaja was charged by the ICC for breaching its clothing and equipment regulations after he wore a black armband without permission during the first Test in Perth.
He wore the armband after he was told wearing shoes with the words “All lives are equal” and “Freedom is a human right” would breach ICC rules.
He was wearing plain black shoes and was greeted warmly by members of the Pakistan team as players from both sides went through light training sessions indoors at the MCG on Monday.
Usman Khawaja. (Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images for Cricket Australia)
On Sunday Khawaja’s bat also contained a ‘UDHR’ reference to article one of the United Nation’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights that ‘all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood’.
The ICC released a statement to News Corp confirming the ban and encouraging Khawaja to continue his stance ‘outside the playing arena’.
“The ICC, after giving due consideration to Usman Khawaja’s request for a personal message logo on his bat for the remainder of the Test series against Pakistan, did not approve the application,” the statement reads.
“Personal messages of this nature are not allowed as per clause F of the Clothing and Equipment Regulations, which can be found on the ICC Playing Conditions page.
“The ICC is supportive of players using their platforms outside of the playing arena to promote human rights, peace and equality and would encourage him to continue to use alternative platforms.”
Khawaja had insisted on Friday that the black armband he wore during the Perth Test was for a “personal bereavement” after being charged by the ICC.
He has ruled out wearing the black armband again for the second match of the series.
Khawaja wants to show his support for those suffering during the ongoing conflict in the Middle East but the ICC has already charged him, four days after the first Test at Optus Stadium ended, for breaching the players’ code of conduct regarding equipment and clothing regulations.
Before that match, Khawaja wrote on his boots “All lives are equal” and “Freedom is a human right”.
Usman Khawaja was banned from wearing an ‘All lives are equal’ message on his shoes during the Perth Test. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
The Indian men’s team wore caps with a camouflage design four years ago in solidarity with their paramilitary police after officers were killed in a militant attack by a Pakistan-based group.
West Indies opener Chris Gayle was told by the ICC in 2021 to remove a sticker which read “The Universe Boss”, his self-appointed nickname, during a T20 series against Australia.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Khawaja’s protest is a heartfelt gesture and I believe he would have said the same after October 7. Hopefully it will come to an end soon.
Bunney
Roar Rookie
Tim, Hamas does not equal or represent all Palestinians, in the same way that the ALP does not equal nor represent the views of all Australians. You seem to have no compunction with the death of innocent - yes, innocent - Palestinian children in the efforts to overcome Hamas. I do. Usman Kwahaja does too. That's not difficult to understand. What Hamas did on Oct 7th was atrocious, and if Israel decide to wipe them out because of those actions, Hamas can't complain. But Israel has used broad-stroke tactics that have killed many thousands of innocent children. That's the issue at the heart of Kwahaja's protest - dead innocent kids. I fail to see how that's divisive. But good luck to you if that's how you see it. Happy New Year
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
> federal politicians, have not given equivalence to the lives of Palestinians and Israelis I think they have but you haven't taken into account the hostages and the torture of children. It's not about equivalence, it's about fighting a terrorist organization that was created to kill Israelis. If only the Palestinians could stop teaching their children their insane hatred of Israelis.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
> Since then, more than 20,000 Palestinians have been killed by the IDF, So, you're saying there should be a proportional response from Israel. How do you evaluate a child being tortured in view of the parents? How do you evaluate a hostage being used as shield for terrorists? Hamas are hell bent on killing Israelis and have said they will not stop so why do you expect the IDF to have a ceasefire.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
> I heard not one voice that did not condemn the actions by Hamas on Oct 7th. Yet two days later there was a crowd at the SOH yelling "Gas the Jews". Labor member for Bankstown was there representing Albo who was once in the PLO.
Bunney
Roar Rookie
The Hamas killings of approximately 1500 Israelis was heavily covered by the media and roundly condemned. I heard not one voice in the coverage that did not condemn the actions by Hamas on Oct 7th. Since then, more than 20,000 Palestinians have been killed by the IDF, and while there has been media coverage of these deaths, there is less than unanimous condemnation of the IDF. Some media cheer leaders say that the 20,000 Palestinian deaths is a necessary evil, and lend their voice if support to Israel's actions. Uzzie is responding to this situation. The Australian media and their talking heads, as well as federal politicians, have not given equivalence to the lives of Palestinians and Israelis. One is favoured / granted higher importance. Saying All Lives Matter is only divisive for people who don't believe that all lives matter...
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
As ExtraSundries said, he didn’t go in to bat for all the Israelis killed on October 7.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Why would the Palestinians expect a measured response from Israel. They would've known the Israelis would search for the hostages as well as Hamas soldiers. They want the Israelis to listen to those saying that's enough.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
So, you have sympathy for Hamas because they only deserved a measured response from Israel. What Hamas did to children was horrible and they recorded it for their home movies. They would've known the Israelis would search for the hostages as well as Hamas soldiers. They hid among their own people and hope the Israelis listen to those saying that's enough.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
He was only standing up for peace when the Israelis were attacking Hamas, not the other way around.
Shaunysaurus
Roar Rookie
If all lives are equal, then why didnt he put that message on after the Ukraine invasion? All lives only became equal when it affected those of a similar religion to him. *That' is the double standard.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
The ‘All lives matter’ was in response to the Israelis searching for Hamas. There was no comment about Hamas and the way they recorded their killing and torture of children for their family and friends. Why would that be?
Bunney
Roar Rookie
I'm pretty certain I read that he posted a compassionate message re: the Israeli's killed and captured on Oct 7th... But even if he hadn't, why does that matter? You are perpetuating an us/them Jew/Muslim dichotomous view of life if you think "All lives matter" doesn't include the Israelis killed on 7th October.
carnivean
Roar Rookie
Everyone has an agenda. You're trying to deny that you have one.
KenW
Roar Rookie
It's fair to say my 3 line description of 70+ years of Israel/Palestine history was perhaps lacking nuance... but the British had control of Mandatory Palestine after WW1, and worked towards partitioning off a Jewish state which led up to the creation of Israel in 1948 - the Belfour declaration, at which point Jews were about 10% of the population. There were definitely ups and downs though, by the end of British rule the Zionist revolutionaries were attacking the Poms. And the actual declaration of Israel happened a year or so after the Brits got out of there and handed over the mess to the UN.
ExtraSundries
Roar Rookie
October 7?
ExtraSundries
Roar Rookie
Agreed. But again, I don't think I'm the one showing a lack of self awareness
ExtraSundries
Roar Rookie
As you say, he could have commented on the October 7 massacres. So tell me, why didn't he?
KenW
Roar Rookie
He could have protested against all sorts of things before. The attacks on Oct 7, the war in Ukraine, climate change, the continued denigration of redheads in our society. All can be described as destroying lives and causing human rights violations. That he didn't speak up on those things does not in any way mean that he was wrong to talk about the completely different thing that he is protesting about.
Ben Pobjie
Expert
Coyness about his “message” - he keeps claiming it’s apolitical.