Usman Khawaja has been the topic of a large controversy surrounding his present of solidarity with the individuals caught in Israel-Hamas battle as a part of his footwear forward of the primary Take a look at match in opposition to Pakistan. Khawaja needed to put on footwear with messages like ‘Freedom is a human proper’ and ‘All lives are equal’. Nevertheless, following an intervention from the Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC), Australia skipper Pat Cummins mentioned that Khawaja is not going to be carrying these footwear. Whereas the batter sported new footwear within the match, a pre-match interview noticed him seem with out his footwear.
Developing earlier than play: @AlisonMitchell chats with Usman Khawaja #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/TosoDs8qBN
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 14, 2023
Through the interview with 7Cricket, Khawaja appeared with out his footwear and when requested in regards to the ICC intervention, he mentioned that he is not going to be carrying the messages on his footwear.
“I am a grown man, I can do something I need, however the ICC will simply preserve coming down and giving me fines, and sooner or later, it should detract from the sport. I stand by what I mentioned. I am going to stand by it ceaselessly. However, I additionally have to go on the market and actually consider what I am doing,” Khawaja mentioned within the interview.
Nevertheless, he made it clear that even when he was not carrying these footwear, he stood by his intentions.
“No, I am going to attempt to do it as quickly as doable, every time that is doable. I believe there have already been precedents set previously that ICC have allowed. Precedents mentioned that gamers have executed stuff the place ICC hasn’t executed something previously. So I discover it a bit unfair that they’ve come down on me at this cut-off date the place there have undoubtedly been precedents previously of comparable issues,” Khawaja mentioned.
Cricket Australia in a press release launched on Wednesday previous to skipper Pat Cummins’ pre-game press convention mentioned, “We help the correct of our gamers to specific private opinions. However the ICC has guidelines in place which prohibit the show of private messages which we anticipate the gamers to uphold.”
Cummins additionally mentioned that he had spoken to the opening batter and he had revealed that he is not going to be carrying the statements on his footwear through the recreation. The skipper additionally expressed his help for Khawaja’s “all lives are equal” message.
(With ANI inputs)
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