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Australia's star opener Usman Khawaja has been in the spotlight following his request to wear shoes inscribed with ‘All Lives Are Equal’. However, after the ICC declined his request, Khawaja opted to wear a black armband during the first Test between Australia and Pakistan at Optus Stadium in Perth.
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Khawaja faced another challenge with cricket's governing body, as the ICC charged him for wearing the black armband during the match. In response, Usman clarified that his intention was not to promote any hidden agenda but to pay tribute to all the children who have lost their lives in wars.
Meanwhile, Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan expressed his support for Usman Khawaja by sharing a video of him and captioning it with "You are an inspiration, brother."
Khawaja played a significant role in the series opener against the Shan Masood-led Pakistani team, scoring 41 in the first innings and 90 in the second. Australia secured a commanding 360-run victory in the match.
“I don’t have any agendas other than trying to shine a light on what I feel really passionately, really strongly about. What I wore on my shoes was really.. I thought about it for a while, what I was going to write. I made sure that I didn’t want to segregate different parts of the population, religious beliefs, communities. Hence, I have kept religion out of this. I am talking about humanitarian issues. I am talking about Article 1 of the unified declaration of human rights. That is literally the crux of it,” said Khawaja in a video posted by cricket.com.au.
“The reason I’m doing it is because it hit me hard. When I am looking at my Instagram and I’m seeing kids, innocent kids, videos of them, dying, passing away, that’s what’s hit me hardest. I just imagine my young daughter in my arms and the same thing. For me, that’s the reason I am doing this. I don’t have any hidden agendas. If anything, this brings up more negativity towards me,” he added.
The ICC's clothing and equipment regulations state: "Players and team officials shall not be permitted to wear, display or otherwise convey personal messages on their clothing, equipment or otherwise, irrespective of whether such messages are affixed to clothing, equipment or otherwise and whether such messages are displayed or conveyed through the use of the specific clothing or other items (eg. an arm band) or by the use of words, symbol, graphic message, images or otherwise ('personal messages'), unless approved in advance by both the player or team official's board and the ICC Cricket Operations Department. Approval shall not be granted for messages which relate to political, religious or racial activities or causes."
Even with the penalty imposed, Khawaja's participation in the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground is not in jeopardy. The 37-year-old is expected to make a statement on December 26 as Australia gears up for the second Test of the series.
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