‘My heart can’t take it’: Usman Khawaja vows to fight ICC shoe ban

Australian opener Usman Khawaja has opened up in an emotional video about why he’ll fight the ICC after they banned the message written on his shoes.

Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja vowed Wednesday to fight a ban on him wearing shoes during a match highlighting the plight of people in Gaza, saying it was a “humanitarian appeal” and not a political message.

During training this week the 36-year-old opening batsman had handwritten slogans “Freedom is a human right” and “All lives are equal” on his footwear.

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Khawaja, who is Muslim, wanted to wear the shoes for the opening Test starting on Thursday in Perth against Pakistan, his birth country.

But governing body the International Cricket Council bans any messages during matches that relate to politics, religion or race.

“I’ve noticed what I’ve written on my shoes has caused a little bit of a stir,” Khawaja began.

“I won’t say much, I don’t need to. But what I do want is for everyone who did get offended is to ask yourself these questions: ‘Is freedom not for everyone? Are all lives not equal?

“To me personally it doesn’t matter what race, religion or culture you are.

“Let’s be honest about it. If me saying ‘all lives are equal’ has resulted in people being offended to the point where they are calling me up and telling me off, well isn’t that the bigger problem?

“These people obviously don’t believe in what I’ve written. And it’s not just a handful of people. You’d be shocked about how many feel this way.

Usman Khawaja has vowed to fight the ICC ban. Photo: Instagram

The shoes. Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images

“What I’ve written on my shoes isn’t political. I’m not taking sides. Human life to me is equal. One Jewish life is equal to one Muslim life is equal to one Hindu life, and so on.

“I’m just speaking up for those who don’t have a voice. This is close to my heart. When I see thousands of innocent children dying without any repercussions or remorse, I imagine my two girls. What if this was them?

“No one chooses where they’re born. And then I see the world turn their backs on them. My heart can’t take it. I already feel my life wasn’t equal to others when I was growing up. But luckily for me, I never lived in a world where that lack of inequality was life or death.

“The ICC have told me that I can’t wear my shoes on the field because they believe it’s a political statement under their guidelines. I don’t believe it is so. It’s a humanitarian appeal. I will respect their view, and their decision but I will fight it and seek to gain approval. Freedom is a human right, and all lives are equal. I will never stop believing that, whether you agree with me or not.”

All Lives are Equal. Freedom is a Human right. I'm raising my voice for human rights. For a humanitarian appeal. If you see it any other way. That's on you... pic.twitter.com/8eaPnBfUEb

— Usman Khawaja (@Uz_Khawaja) December 13, 2023

Cricket Australia said that it supported the players’ right to express their opinions.

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

Khawaja speaking to media. Photo by COLIN MURTY / AFP

Four days ago, Khawaja shared a video on Instagram from the children’s charity UNICEF from Gaza.

In the post he commented: “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 practise?”

In his message on Wednesday Khawaja noted the fierce reaction his stance had caused in some quarters.

In 2014 the ICC banned England all-rounder Moeen Ali from wearing wristbands saying “Save Gaza” and “Free Palestine” during a home Test.

Australian Sports Minister Anika Wells said she believed Khawaja’s shoes did not break the rules.

“I think he has done it in a peaceful and respectful way,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted her as saying.