If the shoe fits: Usman Khawaja to test cricket’s politics rules with pro-Palestine stand
In an act sure to attract controversy, the opening batter plans to wear shoes with ‘Freedom is a human right’ and ‘All lives are equal’ written on them during the first Test.
Usman Khawaja will make a stand in support of Palestinians in Gaza during the First Test against Pakistan in Perth on Thursday.
The opening batter had the words “Freedom is a human right” and “All lives are equal” written on his shoes at team training ahead of the match.
Khawaja, who did not want to be quoted, told The Australian he planned to wear the shoes during the match but insisted it was a human rights gesture and not a protest.
The act is sure to attract controversy, if not a sanction from cricket authorities.
The player said he believed he was not contravening any International Cricket Council regulations and said the act was similar to Cricket Australia expressing solidarity with the LGBTI community or the Indigenous community.
Khawaja, who is the first Muslim to play for Australia, has not informed anybody in cricket of his plans. The words on his shoes are carefully chosen to express equal support for all human life and are not partisan.
The opener who calls himself the “people’s champion” recently signed a deal to work as a commentator with Fox Cricket.
Khawaja’s statement comes after the October 7 massacre by terror group Hamas and the subsequent Israeli invasion of Gaza led to protests and social divisions erupting in Australia.
An Australian protester who identified himself as Wayne Johnson staged a pitch invasion in support of Palestine during Australia’s World Cup final against India last month.
Cameras cut away from the protester who was wearing a T-shirt that had the words “Stop Bombing Palestine” and “Save Palestine”.
Sport has struggled to smother protests, with Scottish fans of football team Celtic staging mass protests against the killings despite attempts by the club’s administration to ban such gestures.
Cricket has a complicated relationship with political protests. The game prides itself on having played a role in helping to bring about the end of apartheid in South Africa but is uncomfortable with individual gestures from players. English all-rounder Moeen Ali was given a warning by the International Cricket Council for wearing a pro-Palestine wrist band for a short period during the 2014 Test match against India in Southhampton. Moeen’s band said “Save Gaza” and “Free Palestine” which the ICC said was in breach of its regulations.
“The ICC equipment and clothing regulations do not permit the display of messages that relate to political, religious or racial activities or causes during an international match,” it said at the time.
“Moeen Ali was told by the match referee that whilst he is free to express his views on such causes away from the cricket field, he is not permitted to wear the wristbands on the field of play and warned not to wear the bands again during an international match.”
Since then the ICC has allowed players to take a knee during the Black Lives Matter protests.
Khawaja, who turns 37 next week, is a senior member of the side and captain of Queensland.
Born in Pakistan, he is a practising Muslim and is highly respected by his teammates and the father of two children.
Cricket Australia took a political stance early in the year when it withdrew from a one-day series against Afghanistan in protest at the Taliban’s treatment of women in that country. “This decision follows the recent announcement by the Taliban of further restrictions on women’s and girls’ education and employment opportunities and their ability to access parks and gyms,” CA said.
“CA is committed to supporting growing the game for women and men around the world, including in Afghanistan, and will continue to engage with the Afghanistan Cricket Board in anticipation of improved conditions for women and girls I the country.”
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