Khawaja had the messages “Freedom is a human proper” and “All lives are equal” within the colours of the Palestinian flag on his boots throughout coaching earlier than the opening Check of the three-match sequence, which the hosts gained by 360 runs in Perth.
Regardless of the intention to put on these boots in the course of the recreation, Khawaja could not accomplish that resulting from ICC rules prohibiting messages associated to political, non secular, or racial actions.
In its place, he wore a black armband, leading to a breach of the ICC’s Clothes and Tools Laws.
“Usman displayed a private message (armband) in the course of the first take a look at match towards Pakistan with out looking for the prior approval of Cricket Australia and the ICC to show it, as required within the rules for private messages,” an ICC spokesperson mentioned.
“This can be a breach below the class of an ‘different breach’ and the sanction for a primary offence is a reprimand.”
Khawaja, who scored 41 and 90 within the first take a look at, had mentioned he believes the statements on his sneakers in assist of the folks of Gaza weren’t political and vowed to struggle the ICC.
Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza in response to the lethal October 7 cross-border assault by Hamas has killed hundreds of Palestinians.
England all-rounder Moeen Ali, who like Khawaja is a Muslim with Pakistani heritage, was banned by the ICC in 2014 from sporting wristbands that includes the slogans “Save Gaza” and “Free Palestine”.
The ICC did, nevertheless, enable gamers to “take the knee” earlier than worldwide matches in assist of the “Black Lives Matter” motion in 2020 and 2021.
The second Check begins on December 26.
(With Reuters Inputs)
