Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja has vowed to “fight” a decision by the sport’s governing body which he says prevents him from posting messages of support to “those who have no voice”.
In an emotional video posted on his social media, Khawaja clarified that his message was “not political” and that the “biggest problem” was that people were calling him to berate him for his stance.
The opening batter was seen wearing cricket boots with the inscription “all lives are equal” and “freedom is a human right” in the colors of the Palestinian flag during the training session of the Australia ahead of their Test series against Pakistan.
International Cricket Council (ICC) rules do not allow players to display “non-compliant” words or logos on clothing or equipment worn during international matches.
This means the batter will not be able to wear these shoes in Australia’s first Test match against Pakistan, which begins on Thursday, December 14.
“I will respect their views and their decision, but I will fight them and seek their approval,” Khawaja said.
“I just speak for those who don’t have a voice.”
The ICC declined Tel Aviv Tribune’s request for comment.
All lives are equal. Freedom is a human right. I raise my voice for human rights. For a humanitarian appeal. If you see it differently. It’s yours… pic.twitter.com/8eaPnBfUEb
– Usman Khawaja (@Uz_Khawaja) December 13, 2023
“I imagine my two daughters – and if it was them”
Khawaja said he was defending the thousands of children who are being killed (in Gaza) “without any repercussions or remorse” and that his message was not “political” as the ICC sees it.
At least 7,700 children have been killed in Gaza since the war began in October, according to government and health officials in the besieged strip.
“This is close to my heart,” he said in the video in a trembling voice.
“When I see thousands of children dying without any repercussions or remorse, I imagine my two daughters – what if it was them?
Khawaja has two daughters, Aisha and Ayla, with his Australian-born wife Rachel, whom he married in 2018.
“No one chooses where they are born, and then I see the world turn its back on them, my heart can’t take it,” he continued in the video.
The 36-year-old was born in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad before moving to Australia as a child. He has often spoken about his experience and the problems he faced in the Australian cricket circuit.
“Growing up, I already felt like my life wasn’t equal to everyone else’s,” he said.
“But fortunately for me, I never lived in a world where the absence of inequality was a matter of life and death.”
Khawaja questions negative reactions
Khawaja, who represented Australia in 115 international matches in his 12-year career, said he wanted to ask those who were offended by his act of solidarity: “Isn’t freedom for everyone ?
“For me, personally, it doesn’t matter what race, religion, or culture you are – but if saying ‘all lives are equal’ offended people to the point of offending them – those people obviously don’t believe in what I I wrote. .”
“What I wrote is not political, I am not taking sides. For me, human life is equal. A Muslim life is equivalent to a Jewish life, a Hindu life, and so on. »
Despite Khawaja’s revelations of a shocking number of people calling to scold him, he has found support from Australian Sports Minister Anika Wells.
“Usman Khawaja is a great athlete and a great Australian,” Anika Wells told local media.
“He should have every right to express himself on the issues that are important to him. He did so in a peaceful and respectful manner.
Meanwhile, Australian captain Pat Cummins said he spoke with Khawaja and confirmed the batter would not post the messages even if they “do not sow discord”.
“On his shoes it said “all lives are equal”. I don’t think it divides much. I don’t think anyone can really complain about that,” he told reporters in his pre-match press conference.
“I don’t think his intention is to make too much noise, but we support him,” Cummins said.
“Political messages make regulators nervous”
Experts believe that the way the ICC reacts to Khawaja’s appeal will set a precedent for the handling of these issues by sporting bodies.
“I think a lot of eyes in the sporting world will be looking at how this issue is resolved,” Ian Bayley, senior lecturer in media and public relations at Staffordshire University, told Tel Aviv Tribune.
Asked if Khawaja had approached them to seek permission to wear the message on his boots, the ICC said they had “no comment, nothing happened”.
“The ICC code of conduct on this issue is quite explicit,” Bayley said.
“But Khawaja’s counterargument that his messages are not political but are actually humanitarian is interesting.
According to the academic, sport has “always provided a strong and powerful platform for political messaging”.
“But it is a fact that, rightly or wrongly, political messages tend to make regulators nervous.
“Putting free speech arguments aside, it is not surprising that many (sporting bodies) have rules in place that limit, or even prohibit, competitors from displaying political messages. »
Former England cricketer Moeen Ali was also the target of the ICC warning for showing support for the Palestinians.
Amid the Gaza war in 2014, Ali was asked to stop wearing bracelets showing his support for Gaza during a test match against India.
Most recently, Pakistani wicketkeeper Muhammad Rizwan dedicated his country’s victory over Sri Lanka in the Cricket World Cup in India to the people of Gaza, but faced no sanction because his comments were made after the match.
‘Double standards’
Cricket fans and pundits have criticized the ICC’s decision and drawn comparisons with the sport which has shown support for other causes in the past.
Cricket writer Ayaz Memon said Khawaja was “brave and fair”.
“What is reprehensible in the cause he defends? ICC, which has (rightly) supported Black Lives Matter, is displaying shameful deceit in this matter,” he wrote in an article on X.
We saw top athletes show solidarity with BLM, Ukraine and the LGBTQ community, which was celebrated. And I’m not saying it was bad. I completely agree. Why these double standards here then? Why can’t Usman Khawaja wear shoes that say All Lives Matter?
Waste.
– Behram Qazi 🇵🇰 🇨🇦 (@DeafMango) December 13, 2023