Usman Khawaja turned to social media to mock the International Cricket Council (ICC) amid the controversy surrounding their decision to prohibit him from displaying a 'symbol of peace' on his bat during the second Test match between Australia and Pakistan in Melbourne, beginning on December 26.
Initially, Khawaja intended to wear shoes with messages like "all lives are equal" and "freedom is a human right" during the first Test in solidarity with victims of the Israel-Hamas conflict. However, the ICC denied his request. Subsequently, when he sought permission to feature the 'dove' symbol on his bat, the ICC once again rejected his request.
The 37-year-old also faced charges from the ICC for wearing a black armband during the first Test, as they stated that such gestures require 'prior permission.'
On the eve of Christmas, Khawaja shared a video on Instagram, featuring Kanye West's 'Can't Tell Me Nothing' as the background music, along with a caption: “Merry Christmas everybody. Sometimes you just gotta laugh. Cya at Boxing Day! #inconsistent #doublestandards.”
The video showcased the ICC's notice about Khawaja's black armband gesture, along with images of various cricketers displaying religious symbols on their bats during international matches.
Earlier, Australia captain Pat Cummins expressed his endorsement for star opener Khawaja, affirming that his attempt to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza was "not offensive."
During the training session on December 24, the logo he exhibited also included the words 01:UDHR, referencing Article One of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
“We really support Uzzy, I think he’s standing up for what he believes and I think he’s doing it really respectfully. All lives are equal and I don’t think that’s very offensive, and I’d say the same about the dove. That’s Uzzy. He can hold his head high the way he’s gone about it, but there’s rules in place, so 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”, Cummins told reporters on the eve of the Test in Melbourne.
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