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<\/p>\nUsman Khawaja explained his appeal in a video statement <\/p>\n
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Australia opener Usman Khawaja is to appeal against the ICC\u2019s ruling that bans him from wearing boots showing support for the people of Gaza.<\/p>\n
Khawaja had the messages \u201cFreedom is a human right\u201d and \u201cAll lives are equal\u201d written on his boots in the colours of the Palestinian flag as Australia trained on Tuesday ahead of their first Test against Pakistan.<\/p>\n
The ICC Code of Conduct bans players from displaying messages related to political, religious or racial causes, but the Pakistan-born batter insisted the statements are non-political and are part of a \u201chumanitarian appeal\u201d.<\/p>\n
Khawaja intended to wear the boots when Australia opened the first Test against Pakistan in Perth on Thursday, according to reports. But while Cricket Australia released a statement backing Khawaja\u2019s right to express his support, captain Pat Cummins later told a press conference that Khawaja had decided against wearing the boots.<\/p>\n
Khawaja then took to Twitter\/X and released a video statement in which he vowed to fight against the ICC\u2019s ruling and explained why his message was non-political.<\/p>\n
"I won\u2019t say much, I don\u2019t need to, but what I do want is for everyone who did get offended, somehow, to ask yourself these questions: Is freedom not for everyone? Are all lives not equal?\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
"To me, personally, it doesn\u2019t matter what race, religion or culture you are. Let\u2019s be honest about it, if me saying \u2018All lives are equal\u2019 has offended people to the point where they\u2019re calling me up and telling me off, well isn\u2019t that a bigger problem? These people obviously don\u2019t believe in what I do, and it\u2019s obviously not a handful of people who feel this way – you\u2019d be shocked.<\/p>\n
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Khawaja\u2019s boots <\/p>\n
"What I\u2019ve written on my shoes isn\u2019t political. I\u2019m 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\u2019m just speaking up for those who don\u2019t have a voice.<\/p>\n
"This is close to my heart. When I see thousands of innocent children die without any repercussions or remorse, I imagine my two girls – what if this was them? No-one chooses where they\u2019re born – and then I see the world turn their backs on them, my heart can\u2019t take it.<\/p>\n
"I already feel my life wasn\u2019t equal to others when I was growing up, but luckily for me I never lived in a world where that inequality was life or death.<\/p>\n
"The ICC have told me I can\u2019t wear my shoes on the field as they believe it\u2019s a political statement under their guidelines. I don\u2019t believe it\u2019s so, it\u2019s a humanitarian appeal.<\/p>\n
"I will respect their view and decision, but I will fight it and seek to gain approval. Freedom is a human right."<\/p>\n
Australia captain Pat Cummins earlier told a media conference that Khawaja had decided against wearing the boots during the match.<\/p>\n
"Uzzie doesn\u2019t want to make too big of a fuss," Cummins said.<\/p>\n
"On his shoes he had, \u2018all lives are equal\u2019. I think that\u2019s not very divisive. I don\u2019t think anyone can really have too many complaints about that."<\/p>\n
England batsman Moeen Ali, who like Khawaja is a Muslim with Pakistani heritage, was banned by the ICC in 2014 from wearing wristbands featuring the slogans "Save Gaza" and "Free Palestine".<\/p>\n
The ICC did, however, allow players to "take the knee" before international matches in support of the \u2018Black Lives Matter\u2019 movement in 2020 and 2021.<\/p>\n
Australia\u2019s Sports Minister Anika Wells, however, gave Khawaja her full backing.<\/p>\n
"I have always advocated for athletes having the right to a voice and to speak up on matters important to them," she told local media.<\/p>\n
"Usman Khawaja is a great athlete and a great Australian. He should have every right to speak up on matters that are important to him.<\/p>\n
"He has done so in a peaceful and respectful way. He has done so as an individual and expressed an individual opinion that does not compromise the Australian cricket team\u2019s obligations to the ICC."<\/p>\n