MELBOURNE, 22 December 2023: Usman Khawaja has said, wearing a black armband during the Perth Test with Pakistan to highlight the Gaza tragedy was a reflection of bereavement and he followed all the ICC regulations. In the past, similar actions by players had not attracted any ICC action, he said. Usman Khawaja was answering to questions by journalists at the Cricket Australia’s (CA) ‘Multicultural Action Plan 2023-2027’ launch today at the MCG, gearing up for the Boxing Day Test on 26 December.
He disclosed, he talked to CA CEO, Nick Hockley about the issue and Cricket Australia is supporting me. I respect the ICC rules, he said.
Usman was crystal clear when he explained his actions saying, I am talking about humanitarian issues and mentioned the universal declaration of human rights after seeing young kids dying. I kept religion out of it and talked about humanity. Kids dying hit me hard, I imagined my daughter. That is why my responsibility to speak on this, he said.
The Australian Prime Minister has supported Usman Khawaja (quoted in SMH) saying:
“I think that Usman Khawaja is a great Australian cricketer and that the position that he put forward is one that I think is pretty uncontroversial, one that all lives are equal is a sentiment that I think is uncontroversial,” Albanese said.
“And I think that he’s someone who plays a really important role for Australian cricket. Usman Khawaja made his position clear, which is he didn’t see it as a political statement.”
ICC comment is awaited.
