In a setback for Usman Khawaja, the ICC has reportedly rejected his appeal against the sanction imposed on him for wearing a black armband during the opening Test against Pakistan in Perth.
In December, Usman Khawaja wore a black armband without permission during the Perth Test to show solidarity with Palestine amidst the ongoing Hamas-Israel conflict in Gaza. He was to initially wear slogans supporting Palestine on his shoes but was stopped by ICC and Cricket Australia.
The 37-year-old, who was born in Pakistan and is the first Muslim to play Test cricket for Australia, had challenged the reprimand saying that the armband was for a personal bereavement.
However, a report in Sydney Morning Herald has stated that the reprimand by ICC will stand despite Usman Khawaja appealing against it.
"Usman Khawaja's reprimand for wearing a black armband onto the field during the first Test against Pakistan in Perth will stand after the International Cricket Council rejected his appeal against the sanction. It was according to a source close to the situation who wished to remain anonymous ahead of any public announcement being made,” the statement from Sydney Morning Herald read.
ICC regulations prevent cricketers from displaying messages of political, religious, or racial causes during international matches. But players are allowed to wear black armbands to mark the deaths of former players, family members, or other significant individuals after taking prior permission from the governing body.
ICC stated that Khawaja didn’t have adequate permission to wear the black armband from either the ICC or Cricket Australia.
"Usman displayed a personal message (armband) during the first test match against Pakistan without seeking the prior approval of Cricket Australia and the ICC to display it, as required in the regulations for personal messages. This is a breach under the category of another breach' and the sanction for a first offense is a reprimand,” the ICC statement said.
Usman Khawaja, however, pointed out double standards in ICC’s rulings.
"The ICC asked me on day two (of the Perth Test) what (the black armband) was for, I told them it was for a personal bereavement. I never stated it was for anything else. I respect the ICC and all the regulations they have, I will be asking them and contesting them ... From my point of view, that consistency hasn't been done yet. The shoes were for a different matter, I'm happy to say that, but the armband (reprimand) made no sense to me,” Khawaja had said.
(PTI inputs)
