Israel-Palestine warfare: Australia cricketer Usman Khawaja boycotts media outlet – here’s why | Cricket News

Usman Khawaja bats on Day 1 of the primary Test between West Indies and Australia. (AP)

Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja refused to take part in a submit-recreation interview with sports activities media outlet SEN after day one of many first Test towards the West Indies within the Caribbean, following SEN’s controversial dismissal of journalist Peter Lalor earlier this yr for posting in regards to the Gaza battle on social media.Khawaja, who scored 47 runs in Australia’s first innings complete of 180 in Bridgetown, declined to talk when he noticed an SEN microphone, informing reporters Adam Collins and Bharat Sundaresan of his choice.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Lalor, who was fired by SEN throughout a Test match in Galle after sharing tweets about Israeli airstrikes and Palestinian prisoners whereas masking Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka in February, expressed his appreciation for Khawaja’s assist.“Usman is a man of principle whose support I valued greatly when I was dismissed and whose ongoing support I appreciate,” Lalor said.Khawaja has been vocal about human rights points, significantly concerning the state of affairs in Gaza. He wore a black armband in the course of the first Test in Perth and tried to put on footwear with messages supporting human rights earlier than being stopped by cricket authorities.The cricketer was prevented by Cricket Australia and the ICC from displaying messages studying “freedom is a human right” and “all lives matter” on his footwear in the course of the Boxing Day Test towards Pakistan on the MCG.“It’s just a little bit disappointing. I don’t really see the controversy of [saying] all lives matter and saying freedom is a human right,” Khawaja mentioned in regards to the shoe incident.“I don’t see where it becomes political … I find it hard to accept where people find what I said distasteful. It makes me feel a little bit uneasy that people find those words uneasy.”“It’s been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster for, I guess… I’ll always stand up for what I believe in, even if people don’t agree with me or don’t like me saying it.”“I want to look back on my career and say, look, I stood up for my values, I respect what I did on the field, but I also respect myself for what I did off the field… that means more to me.”