Cricket Australia boss Nick Hockley has declared allowing Usman Khawaja to wear a humanitarian message on his shoes in the first Test in Perth could have set a “difficult” precedent and there was little room to move for the veteran opener who vowed to fight the ban.
Khawaja was banned from wearing shoes sporting the phrases “all lives are equal” and “freedom is a human right”, in solidarity with the victims of warfare in the Middle East, by existing International Cricket Council rules, which CA demanded he “uphold”.
A proud Muslim, Khawaja labelled the ruling as “disappointing” and questioned how the generic phrases could be considered offensive or even politically divisive.
Hockley indicated CA would review the situation between the first and second Tests of Australia’s series against Pakistan, claiming to support Khawaja.
But he also said CA would back the ICC’s stance and said any changes to the rules would need a lot more time and consideration, effectively ruling out a change before the second Test on Boxing Day.
“The main thing is there are processes available, but it needs to be done in the right way and with due lead time,” Hockley said on Friday.
“It’s about precedence and about having some level of control.
“People are representing their country in cricket matches. If it just opened up then, it’d be very, very difficult.
“If you did get into a situation where people were putting forward things that are inappropriate, then you don’t have control.”
Hockley has already discussed the situation with Khawaja to remind him of the governing support, but also the position it was and the reason for the ICC’s rules.
“Absolutely we want to support all our players who feel strongly about certain things to express themselves,” Hockley told SEN.
“But when you’re playing cricket for your country, when you’re out there representing your country, I think those (ICC) guidelines and regulations are in place for good reason.”
The CA boss was unsure whether the black armband Khawaja wore instead, with tape over the writing on his shoes, would be interpreted as a personal message, and potentially grounds for sanction, by the ICC.
“That’s something for the ICC and the match referees,” he said.
“Everyone’s now really focused on the cricket, and it’s something we’ll sit down next week and talk through,” he said.
“That’s best done outside of a Test match.”
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