PERTH: Usman Khawaja will challenge his ICC charge for wearing a black armband during the first Test against Pakistan in Perth having told the governing body it was for a “personal bereavement” but added that he won’t continue to wear one in the MCG Test which starts on Boxing Day.
Khawaja wore the armband having initially planned to take the field with writing on his shoes which he had worn in training stating “all lives are equal” and “freedom is a human right” to raise awareness of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Black armbands are a regular sight in international cricket to mark deaths of former players, family members or other significant individuals, but they need permission from the national board and the ICC.
Speaking at the MCG on Friday, Khawaja said that he did not believe ICC were implementing their own regulations consistently.
“They asked me on day two [in Perth] what it was for and told them it was for a personal bereavement,” he said of the armband. “I never ever stated it was for anything else. The shoes were a different matter, I’m happy to say that. The armband makes no sense to me. I followed all the regulations, past precedents, guys that put stickers on their bats, names on their shoes, done all sorts of things in the past without ICC approval and never been reprimanded.
“I respect the ICC and the rules and regulations they have. I will be asking them and contesting they make it fair and equitable for everyone and they have consistency in how they officiate. That consistency hasn’t been done yet. I was very open and honest with that. I’ll deal with that with the ICC.”
Also read: Elgar to retire from Tests after India series
There was no official statement when Khawaja wore the armband on the first day in Perth, but at the time it was understood to be in relation to the video he’d posted on social media after being told he could not show the messages on his shoes.
Nick Hockley, the Cricket Australia CEO, confirmed the board was having ongoing discussions with ICC about whether there was a way that Khawaja could share his message although it remain uncertain whether a conclusion to those talks would be reached in time for the Boxing Day Test.
Under the level that Khawaja has been charged with, a reprimand is the most serious punishment so if that did eventuate it would not leave him in any doubt for the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan. Even a fourth such sanction in a 12-month period would only be a penalty of 75% of the match fee rather than a suspension.
“Usman Khawaja has been charged for breaching Clause F of the Clothing and Equipment Regulations,” an ICC spokesperson told ESPNcricinfo. “Usman displayed a personal message (arm band) 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 an ‘other breach’ and the sanction for a first offence is a reprimand.”
