Australia's Usman Khawaja denied permission to use peace symbol on bat, shoes

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Cricketer sported a sticker on his bat and shoes showing a black dove and the words 01:UDHR today in support of Gaza

Australian batsman Usman Khawaja prepares to bat in the nets during a practice session at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne on December 24, 2023, ahead of the second cricket Test match against Pakistan. His shoes displaying a dove symbol is visible on the image at the right. — AFP

Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja was Sunday denied permission by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to use a peace symbol on his bat and shoes during the Boxing Day match against Pakistan.

According to AFP, Khawaja was seen sporting a sticker on his bat and shoes showing a black dove and the words 01:UDHR — a reference to Article One of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights — during a practice session ahead of Australia's second Test match with Pakistan slated to take place on December 26 (Tuesday) in Melbourne.

In recent days, the Australian media said, the athlete has held several meetings with Cricket Australia to decide on an appropriate message that he can use during the second Test match.

But his latest humanitarian gesture has been turned down by the ICC, The Australian and Melbourne Age newspapers reported.

The ICC was not immediately available for comment.

Khawaja, a Muslim, was stopped from wearing shoes emblazoned with the hand-written slogans "Freedom is a human right" and "All lives are equal" during the first Test in Perth.

The 36-year-old had wanted to show his support for the people of Gaza amid the ongoing Israeli assault.

But he was told they flouted ICC rules on messages that relate to politics, religion or race.

He wore a black armband during the match and was reprimanded by the ICC, but insisted afterwards it was for a "personal bereavement" and vowed to contest the ruling.

Khawaja spoke on Friday about how the Israel-Hamas conflict had affected him, saying he despaired at seeing how many children had been killed.

"When I'm looking at my Instagram and seeing innocent kids, videos of them dying, passing away, that's what hit me the hardest," he said.

"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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