The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rejected an appeal by Pakistani-born Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja seeking approval for the armband – which he wore during the Perth Test against Pakistan.
Khawja was accused of breaching the International Criminal Court’s code of ethics after wearing a black armband to reflect his “personal grief” at the loss of precious lives, particularly the deaths of children, in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza – which has seen more more than 23,000 Palestinians were killed by the Israeli offensive.
The rejection of the Australian opener’s appeal means the cricket body’s reprimand will stand above Khawaja’s breach of regulations.
“[Usman] Khawaja has been charged with breaching Article F of the Dress and Equipment Regulations, which can be found on the ICC Playing Conditions page. Penalties for violations are set out in Annex 2,” the ICC spokesperson said.
“[He] displayed a personal message (wristband) during the 1st Test match against Pakistan without seeking prior approval from Cricket Australia and the ICC to display it as required by the Personal Message Regulations. This is a violation in the category of “other violation” and the sanction for the first offense is a warning,” added the spokeswoman of the regulatory body.
Khawaja originally wanted to wear shoes with the slogans “All lives are equal” and “freedom is a human right”, but this was rejected before he could carry out his plans.
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The opener complained about the ICC’s “double standards” over the decision.
“The next day they [ICC] asked me what it was for and [I] told them it was because of personal grief,” Khawaja said in December.
“I never said it was for anything else. The shoes were something else, I’m happy to say. The bracelet makes no sense to me.
“I’ve followed all the regulations, past precedents, guys who put stickers on their bats, names on their boots, have done all sorts of things in the past without ICC approval and never been reprimanded. I respect the ICC and its rules and regulations.
“I will question them and challenge them to make it fair and just for everyone and be consistent in how they officiate. This consistency has not yet been implemented.”
Khawaja has been given permission by Cricket Australia to wear a picture of a dove with an olive branch if he plays in the BBL this season.
