Australian captain Pat Cummins has expressed support for his teammate Usman Khawaja, stating that Khawaja’s views on Gaza are “not offensive” but rather an attempt to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis. The International Cricket Council (ICC) denied Khawaja permission to display a peace symbol on his bat and shoes during the Boxing Day match against Pakistan. Khawaja, a Muslim, had a sticker on his gear with a black dove holding an olive branch and the words 01:UDHR, referencing Article One of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The ICC cited its rules against messages related to politics, religion, or race. Cummins commended Khawaja, saying, “That’s Uzzy. I think he can really hold his head high with the way he’s gone about it.”
During a practice session ahead of the second Test match, Khawaja wore shoes featuring hand-written slogans “Freedom is a human right” and “All lives are equal,” but the ICC rejected them. Cummins emphasized the rules in place, acknowledging the ICC’s decision. Khawaja, who wore a black armband in the Perth Test and received a reprimand from the ICC, clarified that it was for a “personal bereavement” and not politically motivated. Reflecting on the Israel-Hamas conflict, Khawaja said, “When I’m looking at my Instagram and seeing innocent kids, videos of them dying, passing away, that’s what hit me the hardest. I don’t have any agendas other than trying to shine a light on what I feel really passionately, really strongly about.”
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