Usman Khawaja won’t be allowed to make political statements while playing for Australia

A plan by Usman Khawaja to make a political statement in the first Test in Perth has sparked intense debate and hit a brick wall.

Test opener Usman Khawaja has been banned from making a political statement over the war in Gaza on his shoes for the opening clash with Pakistan by Cricket Australia after his plan divided the nation.

He had support from the federal Sports Minister mixed with a declaration he “has no right” from a former Australian all-rounder.

Khawaja wore the shoes sporting the slogans “Freedom is a human right” and “All lives are equal” at the Australia team’s main training session on Tuesday and planned to wear them on Thursday despite potentially being in breach of International Cricket Council rules.

But late on Wednesday CA declared the 36-year-old would be expected to “uphold” the rules banning the display of personal messages.

“We support the right of our players to express personal opinions,” a CA statement said.

“But the ICC has rules in place which prohibit the display of personal messages which we expect the players to uphold.”

The veteran opener has not shied away from making statements about the ongoing conflict and his support for Palestine through his various social media channels, and according to former Australian all-rounder Simon O’Donnell, that’s where they should stay.

O’Donnell said Khawaja shouldn’t be allowed to make such a bold, personal political statement while playing for Australia.

“I fully respect Usman Khawaja’s beliefs personally … he should be able to state his beliefs on his own platform,” O’Donnell told SEN on Wednesday after revelations of Khawaja’s plans.

“But while he’s representing Australia he has no right, nil, zero, to bring his personal beliefs and instil those onto others.”

Usman Khawaja has created a storm with the messages on his shoes. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

However, federal Sports Minister Anika Wells, who was in Perth on Wednesday, backed Khawaja.

“As the federal sports minister, I have always advocated for athletes to have the right to have a voice and to speak up on matters that are important to them,” she said on Wednesday morning.

“Usman Khawaja is a great athlete. Usman Khawaja is a great Australian and he has every right to speak up on matters that are important to him.

“I think he has done it in a peaceful and respectful way and as a way that he as an individual can express an individual opinion that doesn’t compromise the Australian cricket team’s obligations to the ICC.”

Players and officials are not permitted to display messages on their clothing or equipment unless approved in advance by their board or the ICC.

Khawaja with teammates Mitch Marsh and Travis Head in Perth. Picture: Colin Murty / AFP)

Khawaja, a proud Muslim, has been distressed by scenes out of Gaza since Israel retaliated to the Hamas attacks on October 7 and took to Instagram on Saturday to post his concerns on the war.

“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’. #Gaza #humanity #equality #alllivesmatter,” Khawaja wrote.