Usman Khawaja slams ‘unbelievable’ sacking of Peter Lalor during Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka

Usman Khawaja has taken aim at a broadcaster for axing a respected cricket reporter due to his controversial social media activity.

Australian Test opener Usman Khawaja has slammed SEN’s decision to sack veteran cricket broadcaster and prominent journalist Peter Lalor after station management took exception to his social media activity.

The journalist’s X feed includes re-posts of news stories about Israeli attacks in Gaza, and followed the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, which reportedly made management and listeners uncomfortable.

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Lalor was on the ground in Sri Lanka covering the Test match in Galle for SEN, when he was informed on the final morning of the first Test by the station’s chief executive Craig Hutchison that his services were no longer required.

Hutchison said in a statement on Monday that Lalor would be leaving the network due to “differing views” over the impact the posts on his personal social media accounts had on members of the Australian community.

“We’ve been in dialogue through the back half of the Test about some of the commentary on Peter’s private social media feed. Peter and I have a different view of the impact of that in the Australian community,” Hutchison said in a statement.

Usman Khawaja left and Peter Lalor right. Image: Getty

“SEN Cricket is a celebration of differences and nationalities and a place where our SEN audience can escape what is an increasingly complex and sometimes triggering world.

“We respect Pete as a journalist and long-time contributor to the game but also acknowledge the fear that many families in our community feel right now, and we also need to respect that.”

Lalor went public with his version of events on Monday night saying he had received two calls from senior management at SEN on the third day of the Galle Test before being informed the following morning that he could no longer work for them due to his social media activity.

Peter Lalor has worked in media for more than three decades.

Craig Hutchison said listeners had been impacted by Peter Lalor’s social media activity. Pic: Sam D'Agostino

“I was told in one call there were serious organisations making complaints; in another, I was told that this was not the case,” Lalor said.

“Perhaps I misunderstood. I was told there were accusations I was antisemitic which I strongly objected to. I was told my retweeting was not balanced and insensitive to one side and that many people had complained.

“I was asked by station boss Craig Hutchison, who was civil if I didn’t care that my retweeting of events in Gaza made Jewish people in Melbourne feel unsafe. I said I didn’t want anyone to feel unsafe.

“Of course, I care. I have friends who are frightened and have heard the fear in their voices during conversations. It is an awful situation. But so is Gaza. It was a brief and cordial call.

“The following day Hutchison told me that because the ‘sound of my voice made people feel unsafe’ and that people are ‘triggered by my voice’, I could not cover the cricket for them anymore.”

Usman Khawaja was named man of the match in Australia’s first Test in Galle. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

As the news broke on Monday night, fresh of his first ever double century, Khawaja spoke out in support of Lalor, labelling his dismissal “unbelievable”, and sharing the journalist’s statement on his Instagram.

“Standing up for the people of Gaza is not antisemitic nor does it have anything to do with my Jewish brothers and sisters in Australia, but everything to do with the Israeli government and their deplorable actions,” Khawaja said.

“It has everything to do with justice and human rights.

“Unfortunately hatred towards the Jewish and Muslim community will always exist.

“Pete is a good guy with a good heart. He deserves better.”

Lalor’s SEN colleagues in Sri Lanka were understood to have been informed about the decision on Sunday morning.

As it stands Lalor will continue to cover cricket for his Cricket Et Al podcast and still holds roles on Seven and the ABC.

The second Test in Sri Lanka begins on Thursday.