Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja, who had earlier been spotted wearing shoes with handwritten slogans related to the situation in Palestine, has decided against sporting them during the first Test against Pakistan. The slogans, reading “Freedom is a human right” and “All lives are equal,” were absent during the match, aligning with the regulations set by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Team captain Pat Cummins addressed the media, noting that Khawaja might not be aware of the ICC guidelines prohibiting political, religious, or racial messages during matches. Cummins emphasized that Khawaja didn’t want to create a big fuss about the matter.

“I spoke to him just quickly, and he said he won’t be. Uzzie doesn’t want to make too big of a fuss,” Pat Cummins stated.

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Usman Khawaja, a Pakistani-born cricketer following the Muslim faith, had previously expressed his concerns about the humanitarian situation in Palestine by sharing a UNICEF video on Instagram. While Cricket Australia supports players expressing personal views, it also emphasizes compliance with ICC regulations regarding messages and symbols during international matches.

This incident recalls the 2014 ban imposed on England all-rounder Moeen Ali for wearing wristbands with messages supporting Gaza and Palestine during a Test match. The ICC consistently maintains its stance against political expressions during cricket matches.

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Previous instances, such as the denial of permission for former India captain MS Dhoni to wear gloves with the Indian Army insignia during the ICC World Cup 2019, highlight the ICC’s commitment to upholding its rules on the display of symbols and messages on the field. Despite a written request from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the ICC upheld its regulations in this regard.