Usman Khawaja is bewildered by the ICC’s decision to charge him for wearing a black armband during the Perth Test against Pakistan, declaring he told them on the second day it was for a personal bereavement.
But Khawaja, who has had several discussions with Cricket Australia regarding his stance surrounding the conflict in Gaza, said he has no plans to wear the armband during the Boxing Day Test beginning on Tuesday.
“For me, personally, dealing with the ICC, I think being reprimanded for wearing a black armband … made no sense to me,” he said.
“I followed all the regulations and past precedents. Guys have put stickers on their bats. Names on their shoes. They have done all sorts of things in the past without ICC approval and never been reprimanded.
“I respect what the ICC regulations are … but I will be asking them for consistency in how they officiate this. That is all I ask for. Because from my point of view, that consistency hasn’t been hasn’t been done yet.”
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Khawaja’s stance first became public when he wore shoes with the messages “all lives are equal” and “freedom is a human right” during a training session at the WACA Ground last week.
He subsequently taped over the shoes to comply with ICC regulations.
But the ICC charged Khawaja with a breach of its regulations on Thursday night.
Khawaja, who was speaking at the launch of the Cricket Australia’s Multicultural Action Plan at the MCG on Friday, believes he has the support of the national body.
“We are working together. I feel like I have supported Cricket Australia and Cricket Australia have supported me too,” he said.
“I respect that there are rules and procedures and regulations and guidelines. I don’t think that they are always followed by ICC to a tee, but I am respecting them and just trying to do things aboveboard.”
Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley said it was a complex matter and that the body was trying to find the appropriate balance between supporting the star opener while balancing the ICC regulations.
“It was a bit difficult, because it was right before a Test match,” Hockley said.
“We are very clear that the ICC has rules in place for a very good reason and we expect our players to follow and comply with those regulations.
“The work we have been doing since is to see if there is a really respectful way that is very much unifying (and) brings people together to allow Uzzie to share his message. That is the subject now of ICC consideration.”
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