Australian opener Usman Khawaja has reignited the debate around the banned dove logo on day 3 of the 1st Test against New Zealand at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. The left-handed batter was forced to remove the dove logo holding an olive branch before resuming batting on day 3 as the umpires likely indicated it.
The 37-year-old cracked his bat on the 3rd morning, forcing Matt Renshaw to walk out with a replacement one. Nevertheless, Khawaja first had to get rid of the controversial human rights sticker from the bat before returning to bat.
During Australia's home series against Pakistan, the ICC had declined Khawaja's request to wear the logo to express solidarity with Palestine amid their conflict with Israel as it denotes political protest. However, the left-handed batter has continued to use the sticker while batting in the nets.
Ahead of the Perth Test against Pakistan, the southpaw planned to wear shoes which said, 'All lives are equal' and Freedom is a human right'. With the apex body of the sport prohibiting him from displaying the message, Khawaja donned a black armband. The ICC yet again censured it. Despite ICC's regulation, Cricket Australia chief Nick Hockley and skipper Pat Cummins have shown Khawaja their support.
Usman Khawaja scores 28 as New Zealand retain faint hope of chasing down 369:
Khawaja followed up his first-innings score of 33 with 28 before Glenn Phillips had him stumped. Nathan Lyon top-scored for Australia with 41 as they folded for 164 after securing a 204-run lead.
Nevertheless, Lyon also roared with the ball, snaring wicket of Tom Latham and Nathan Lyon. Travis Head also contributed with the wicket of Will Young, but Rachin Ravindra scored a defiant half-century to take the Black Caps to 111-3 at Stumps. They require another 258 runs with 2 days left.
