Usman Khawaja to contest Gaza message ruling

Australian cricket player Usman Khawaja says he will not accept the decision to stop him from speaking out in support of Palestinians during a game, and is ready to challenge it.

The batter had planned to wear shoes with the words “all lives are equal” and “freedom is a human right” at a Test match with Pakistan.

The International Cricket Council said they couldn’t do it because they thought the statements were “political,” Khawaja explained.

In a video, he said that the message was a “plea for help for people in need”.

In the Instagram video, the 36-year-old said that he’ll listen to the International Cricket Council’s decision, but he’ll still try to get them to agree with him.

According to ICC rules, Khawaja might not be allowed to play in the match if he wears the shoes without permission. Team captain Pat Cummins had said earlier that Khawaja won’t do this.

Khawaja, who is a follower of Islam, was seen wearing the shoes earlier this week while practicing for the next Test match in Perth. He has shown his support for people in Gaza on social media before.

“Nobody gets to pick where they are born. ” When I was growing up, I felt like my life wasn’t as good as other people’s lives. “But I’m lucky because I’ve never had to live in a world where unfair treatment could kill me,” he said in the video.

Before, Khawaja shared a video from Unicef on Instagram about Gaza. In the comments, he asked if people don’t care about innocent humans being killed, or if their skin color or religion makes them less important. He said these things shouldn’t matter if we really believe that everyone is equal.

Cricket Australia said it is okay for their players to share their own opinions, but they need to follow the rules of the ICC.

Cummins said he thought Khawaja didn’t know the rules, but still publicly backed what he said.

He said he doesn’t think the person meant to cause any trouble.

“I think he believed that everyone is equal. ” I don’t think that would cause disagreements. I don’t think anyone can have too many problems with that.

Anika Wells, the Sport Minister, supports the batter and doesn’t think his shoes break the ICC rules.

Usman Khawaja is a talented sports player and a proud Australian. He should be allowed to talk about things that are important to him. “He did it quietly and politely,” she said.

But ex-Australian cricket players Rodney Hogg and Simon O’Donnell said that the sports field is not the right place to make political statements.

“I completely respect Usman Khawaja’s beliefs, but when he’s playing for Australia, he shouldn’t try to push his beliefs onto others,” O’Donnell said on local SEN radio.

According to ICC rules, players and officials need permission to display anything on their clothing or equipment. Messages that could cause problems or are political are not allowed.

The rules also allow referees to make players stop playing if they are wearing things that don’t follow the rules.

In 2014, a cricketer from England named Moeen Ali was told to stop wearing wristbands that showed his support for Gaza during a Test match with India.