Australian Test opener Usman Khawaja has showed his support and solidarity for people of Palestine by wearing a black armband in the first Test against Pakistan at Optus Stadium in Perth.
Khawaja irked a controversy after the photos went viral, wherein he was spotted wearing a pro-Palestine shoes during the training session ahead of the Test series opener against visiting Pakistan team.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) disapproved Usman Khawaja's request to wear pro-Palestine shoes with slogans “All Lives Are Equal” and “Freedom Is A Human Right” on them.
Ahead of the 1st Test against Pakistan, the Australian opener vowed to fight against ICC guidelines to wear the shoes.
Usman Khawaja seems to have not abide to the ICC rules but instead, ditched the idea of not wearing the shoes.
The 34-year-old decided to wear a black armband in order to show his resistance. However, his antics may not be taken lightly by the International Cricket Council.
Even before the start of play, Khawaja gave a barefoot interview to the broadcasters.
“I'm a grown man, I can do anything I want, but the ICC will just keep coming down and giving me fines, and at some point, it will detract from the game. I stand by what I said. I'll stand by it forever.
"But, I also need to go out there and really concentrate on what I'm doing,” Khawaja said in the interview.
“I'll try to do it as soon as possible, whenever that's possible. I think there have already been precedents set in the past that ICC have allowed.
"Precedents said that players have done stuff where ICC hasn't done anything in the past. So I find it a bit unfair that they have come down on me at this point in time where there have definitely been precedents in the past of similar things,” Khawaja added.
What ICC Rule Says?
According to ICC Code of Conduct, players and team officials are strictly prohibited from wearing, displaying or any conveying messages through armbands or other items affixed to clothing or equipment unless prior approval by ICC.
Australia captain Pat Cummins confirmed to the media that Usman Khawaja won't wearing pro-Palestine shoes for the 1st Test against Australia in order to avoid creating a big fuss out of it.
Nonetheless, Usman Khawaja has already violated ICC Code of Conduct by wearing a black armband to show his support to people of Palestine, who were affected by attack by Israel.
Khawaja and Warner provide a good start for Australia
After opting bat first in the 1st Test against Pakistan, Australia's opening pair Usman Khawaja and David Warner provided a good start to their 1st innings on Day 1.
Warner has led the Australia's 1st innings batting by scoring an unbeaten 72 off 67 balls, while Khawaja is playing a perfect anchor role at the end scoring 37 off 84 balls.
For visitors, Shaheen Afridi was took to cleaners by David Warner and conceded 45 runs without a wicket in nine overs. At the end of 1st session, Australia were 117/0.
