Cricketers on and off the field are after all human beings. With all the world diversified and people of different religion and culture spread across the globe it is rather ridiculous to oppose a person to practice his own beliefs and traditions in their respective places of works be it sports in the form of cricket. However this doesn’t seems to go well with the parent organization who for some reason tries to refrain the cricketer from practicing his beliefs in fear of religion taking over the game of cricket.
Many such incidences has happened in the past with the likes of Great Sachin Tendulkar asked to place the Indian Tricolor over the BCCI symbol on his helmet or MS Dhoni to change his wicket keeping gloves due to to its resemblance to the Indian Army. The latest brewing in this topic was when ICC reprimanded Australian left handed opener Usman Khawaja and rejected his appeal to portray a dove with an olive branch on his cricket gear in support to raise an awareness on humanitarian issues at the second test in MCG.
This was the new addition to the already brewing controversy versus Usman Khawaja where he was reprimanded for his stand on equal rights to all the people and wearing a black armband in support of Gaza in the first test of the ongoing test series vs Pakistan in Perth.
Khawaja wasn’t allowed to wear shoes with “All lives are equal” and “freedom is a human right” written on them by the ICC during the Test series opener between Australia and Pakistan in Perth.
Though ICC finding it fishy , many current and Ex cricketers alongside some influential figures came in support of the act conducted by Usman Khawaja on the cricket field. Amid this conflicts and controversies between Usman Khawaja Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has extended his support lauding Khwaja’s act as a humanitarian one.
Australian PM Anthony Albanese lauds Usman Khawaja amid ICC saga
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has come out in support of Usman Khawaja, who continues to show his solidarity with the victims of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.
The Pakistan-born Aussie cricketer was barred by the International Cricket Council (ICC) from displaying messages ‘All lives are equal’ and ‘Freedom is a human right’ on his shoes. It happened during Australia’s first Test against Pakistan Down Under.
The cricketer had to tape his shoes but sported a black armband for the same cause during the opening Test in Perth. The ICC, however, sanctioned him for breaching clothing and equipment regulations.
Khawaja then wished to sport a sticker of a dove holding an olive branch on his bat in the second Test in Melbourne but was once again barred by the ICC. Khawaja took to Instagram to express his opinion on these decisions by the cricketing body.
Now, ahead of the Sydney Test (set to begin on January 3), host nation’s PM Albanese addressed the Pakistani and Australian teams at Kirribilli House on New Year’s Day. He was quoted as saying by Perth Now.
“I’d like to congratulate (Khawaja) for the courage he has shown standing up for human values. He has shown courage, and the fact that the team has backed him in is a great thing.” he stated.