Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has praised Usman Khawaja’s courage in fighting to show solidarity with victims of warfare during Australia’s Test series with Pakistan and the Test opener is set to be able to display the dove and olive branch logo on his bat but only in BBL matches.
Since the days before last month’s series opener, Khawaja has been lobbying to voice his support for those affected by ongoing conflict in the Middle East, first by writing “all lives are equal” and “freedom is a human right” on his shoes.
The International Cricket Council barred Khawaja from displaying the phrases during the Perth Test on the grounds that international players are prohibited from wearing personal messages on their uniforms.
The veteran opening batter eventually taped over the messages, but the ICC charged him for breaching clothing and equipment regulations with the black armband he wore instead.
Khawaja had hoped to display a dove holding an olive branch on his bat, but this too was banned by the ICC but now, according to a report in The Age, his submission has been approved by Cricket Australia and he can display the image when he appears for the Brisbane Heat in BBL matches.
“I feel strongly about the right of every human being to enjoy peace, freedom and equality in dignity and rights regardless of their gender, age, colour, race, language, religion or national or social origin,” Khawaja wrote in the submission.
“Some human rights are inalienable and transcend all our differences. These rights are enshrined in the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) that has been ratified by all member states of the United Nations.
“At a time when there is such a loss of life and liberty in the world – most recently in the Middle East – I would like to promote a personal message of peace, freedom and equality by displaying an internationally recognised symbol of peace and freedom – a dove with a sprig – on the back of my bat together with the phrase “01: UDHR” (Logo).”
The submission included a diagram of where the logo would appear on the back of his bat
Khawaja, who has received widespread support from current and former Test players, wrote the names of his daughters on his shoes in the MCG Test in place of the original messages.
Mr Albanese made mention of Khawaja on Monday as he addressed the Australian and Pakistani teams at Kirribilli House during his annual New Year’s Day reception before the SCG Test.
Usman Khawaja was given a reprimand for wearing a black armband to protest the violence in Gaza throughout the first Test against Pakistan. (Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images)
“I’d like to congratulate (Khawaja) for the courage he has shown standing up for human values,” Mr Albanese said.
“He has shown courage, and the fact that the team has backed him in is a great thing.”
This week’s Test match will be Khawaja’s last batting with opening partner David Warner, who is hanging up his baggy green at the conclusion of the match, which begins on Wednesday.
Usman Khawaja looks on while waiting to bat during an Australian nets session. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
“When Ussie and Dave go out, it will be a very special moment, when you walk on to the SCG,” Mr Albanese said.
The pair of childhood friends have formed a formidable duo at the top of the order since Khawaja’s recall to the Test team during the home Ashes series two summers ago
Warner became emotional speaking about Khawaja in his pre-match press conference on Monday.
“Just to see him come back the way he has the last two years has been absolutely amazing,” Warner said.
“I know his family are really, really proud of him. I’m really, really proud of him as a mate.
“When you’re childhood friends dreaming big and you get to go out here at the SCG, it’s fitting.”
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Why would Usman do this? No internationally recognised state is impacting the right of Jewish people to live in Israel. The same can't be said for people in Palestine.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
Well, champ, if they've seen one side of it being reported they're aware of it haven't they, so therefore Usman's work is in vain. Of course, champ, if they want the full story they won't get that from any media outlet - commercial TV is is in support of Israel and public TV is in support of Hamas.
jdoodle
Roar Rookie
most people have it on ignore or only see the one side being widely reported but ok champ...
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
Yeah, I do, a spurious argument is where it’s going.
La grandeur d'Athéna
Roar Rookie
You are mistaken, i do not give a hoot about your point. For you folks who were trying to frame your previous effort of “letting jews settle in israel” now acting naively. This is a typical western guilt point. Because west is finding out rest of the world is figuring out west’s bs. And for dropping a line, let us know how you “volunteers” are doing in Ukraine.
La grandeur d'Athéna
Roar Rookie
With pleasure, when are you leaving the aboriginals?
Redcap
Roar Guru
"According to the Oxford dictionary, virtue signalling is “the act of expressing your opinions about social or political issues in public in order to show other people that you are a good person”. But every single person does that every single day, in all sorts of contexts and for all sorts of reasons. They might be conforming to or departing from cultural norms. They might be mainstream or fringe, or anywhere in between. It really depends who they're signalling to. You're demanding Mr Khawaja express your views, to the extent that you want him to balance an equation you know he can't balance in his public capacity, and only then will he avoid 'virtue' signalling'. So, to avoid 'virtue-signalling' he has to 'virtue-signal' in a way which you approve of, which will then mean his original virtue signal becomes meaningless, so he'll have to correct and move closer to his original virtue signal, at which point he'd have to respond to your virtue signal... and do you see where this is going?
XI
Roar Guru
Why would him doing both not ring hollow? What would make that not virtue signalling? What makes what you're doing not virtue signalling?
AndyS
Roar Rookie
I think the whole point was what the ICC was doing about it. To Khawaja, who is now trying to reframe his previous effort as actually being totally bipartisan and equally about both sides of the conflict, not just one. I personally don't have any axe to grind, but if you feel so strongly about it they seem to be letting folk go over and lend a hand. Drop a line when you get back, let us know how you got on...
WhoDis
Roar Rookie
I guess we’re all headed back to Ethiopia then.
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
Albo will jump on any bandwagon for those virtue credits.
La grandeur d'Athéna
Roar Rookie
Says who? You? As if i care how ICC, ACB or that useless UN acts? Yes he encouraged me in the political beliefs that colonials must be held accountable. What are you gonna do about it?
AndyS
Roar Rookie
And that he has encouraged you in those very political beliefs probably explains why the ICC felt the need to act. Perhaps why the ACB still should.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
I will when every immigrant leaves my homeland. We can all go back to where we came from.
La grandeur d'Athéna
Roar Rookie
I appreciate UK’s being vocal about human rights. But some people from certain part of the globe always jump in to ask for the equal treatment. We will be equal, after we deal with the history of colonization. It is quite funny, the supposed Euro transported “americans” whine more about Israel’s history than their own history. We know what happened in Native America, and the gun loving “civilians” are not going anywhere until we say so.
La grandeur d'Athéna
Roar Rookie
No, he is calling for freedom of human rights, not criminals. If every criminals claim human rights, then we let go off the history of colonization that still stands today.
La grandeur d'Athéna
Roar Rookie
Sure, as soon as natives are given back native america & you leave the land of aboriginals. It would be brave for you to lead by example.
XI
Roar Guru
Someone commenting on a news piece on a sports website that someone should do something to prove their virtues definitely would qualify as virtue signalling though.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
Yeah no-one would've been aware if it hadn't have been for Usman...
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
If he doesn't do both his words are hollow. According to the Oxford dictionary, virtue signalling is "the act of expressing your opinions about social or political issues in public in order to show other people that you are a good person". Usman is absolutely virtue signalling; he's not going to change anything by his stance, he's not going to achieve anything of note by his stance; but he will enhance his reputation by his stance. What he is doing is textbook virtue signalling.