Australian batter Usman Khawaja says he will fight for the ban imposed on his bid to share the message with pro-Palenstinian on his shoes during the first Test against Pakistan at Perth starting tomorrow. (Streaming | More Cricket News)
The southpaw had decided to wear the shoes bearing the slogan, "all lives are equal" and "freedom is a human right" at the Test match against Paksitan.
However, Cricket Australia had reminded Usman Khawaja that he must abide buy the international rules and must not use 'personal messages'.
In a video message posted on his social media account, Khawaja said that the messages on the shoes aren't political but for a 'humanitarian appeal'.
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In an emotional video posted on Wednesday, the 36-year-old batter said, "I will respect (the International Cricket Council's) view and decision, but I will fight it and seek to gain approval. No one chooses where they are born... I already felt my life wasn't equal to others when I was growing up. But luckily for me, I have never lived in a world where the lack of inequality was life or death," he said.
Earlier, Khawaja had posted a video of UNICEF from Gaza on Instagram with the comments, ""Do people not care about innocent humans being killed? Or is it the colour of their skin that makes them less important? Or the religion they practice? These things should be irrelevant if you truly believe that 'we are all equal'."
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Cricket Australia though has reminded Khawaja that he must not use personal messages.
Also Read: AUS Vs PAK 1st Test Preview
"We support the right of our players to express personal opinions. But the ICC has rules in place which prohibit the display of personal messages which we expect the players to uphold," Cricket Australia said in a statement on Wednesday.
Skipper Pat Cummins and Australia Sports Minister though, have come in support of Khawaja, who said that he will no longer wear the shoes.
"I don't think his intention was to make too big of a fuss," he said.
"I think he had 'all lives are equal'. I don't think that's very divisive. I don't think anyone can have too many complaints about that," Cummins said whilst speaking to the local media.
Australian Sports Minister Anika Wells told the reporters that Khawaja's shoes weren't contradicting the rules imposed by the ICC.
"Usman Khawaja is a great athlete and a great Australian. He should have every right to speak up on matters that are important to him. He has done so in a peaceful and respectful way," she said.
Under the ICC rules, players and officials cannot display or show anything on their clothing or equipment without the cricket's governing body's approval, with 'potentially divisive' or political messages barred.
In 2014, England all-rounder Moeen Ali was warned to stop wearing wristbands that demonstrated pro-Gaza slogans during a Test match with India.
