Usman Khawaja blocked from wearing symbol of peace on bat and shoes by ICC

Australian opener Usman Khawaja’s latest act ahead of the Boxing Day Test has been blocked by cricket’s governing body.

Australian opener Usman Khawaja’s application to have a symbol of peace on his shoes and bat has been rejected by the International Cricket Council.

Khawaja was prevented from wearing shoes with the message “all lives are equal” and “freedom is a human right” on it during the first Test.

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Instead of a written message, Khawaja had hoped to display a sticker of a black dove with an olive branch to pay respect to the lives lost in Gaza for the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan.

Khawaja even wore shoes with the design during a training session prior to the fixture.

Along with the black dove, Khawaja had a reference to Article One of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on his bat.

Article One states: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”

Khawaja’s application to have an humanitarian icon on his shoes and bat has been rejected. (Photo by William WEST / AFP)

Per The Australianand the Sydney Morning Herald, Khawaja had gained permission from both Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers Associated to use the logo during the second Test.

However, his application was denied by the ICC.

It is the second time Khawaja has been reprimanded by cricket’s governing body after he donned a black armband during the first Test in respect to Palestinian lives lost in Gaza.

If players are to wear a black armband, approval must be gained to wear a black armband by the ICC as well as the relevant nation’s governing body.

But Khawaja was not given approval and was subsequently charged by the ICC for “breaching Clause F of the Clothing and Equipment Regulations”.

The black armband that ended with Khawaja being charged. (Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images)

“Usman Khawaja has been charged for breaching Clause F of the Clothing and Equipment Regulations, which can be found on the ICC Playing Conditions page. The sanctions for a breach of the regulations are outlined in Appendix 2,” an ICC spokesperson said.

“Usman displayed a personal message (arm band) during the 1st Test Match against Pakistan without seeking the prior approval of Cricket Australia and the ICC to display it, as required in the regulations for personal messages. This is a breach under the category of an “other breach” and the sanction for a first offence is a reprimand.”

Khawaja lashed the ICC for censoring him and doubled down on his promise to continue to promote messages of support for civilians in Gaza.

He pointed out inconsistencies in the ICC’s rulings where some players have previously been approved to show personal messages that surrounded topics of politics, religion or race.

Originally published as Usman Khawaja blocked from wearing symbol of peace on bat and shoes by ICC