Two cricket fans are KICKED OUT of first Test for pro-Palestine banner that uses the exact same words as Usman Khawaja’s banned statement
- ICC stopped the Australian opening batsman from making this statement
- Supporters took it upon themselves and were sent off for their trouble
- Comes twelve months after the banner supporting Justin Langer was removed
A banner with the same messages Usman Khawaja had written on his boots was removed by security during the first Test between Australia and Pakistan at Optus Stadium.
The ICC banned Khawaja from wearing shoes on the playing field before the match with the inscriptions 'all lives are equal' and 'freedom is a human right'.
The veteran opener had wanted to show the messages in the wake of the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Instead, he wore a black armband and put tape over the words on his shoes.
The issue resurfaced on Sunday when a patron who displayed a banner with the same words attracted the attention of security.
The banner was over five meters long and was hung over the fifth floor railing on the south side of the hall.
A pro-Palestine banner is removed by security during day 4 of the first test match between Australia and Pakistan at Optus Stadium
The banner carried the same words that Khawaja had wanted to wear on his boots during the match against Pakistan
The ICC intervened and banned Khawaja from taking this position, which led to him putting tape over the messages he had written on his shoes (pictured)
The patron attracted further attention by chanting pro-Palestinian slogans, with security quickly rolling up the banner and escorting the man out of the stadium.
Other people were also escorted from the room.
“A sign has been removed as it breached Cricket Australia's terms of entry,” Optus Stadium said in a statement.
'Some customers have been removed due to anti-social behaviour, not because of the sign.'
Last summer, a banner reading 'Justice for JL' was removed by security during Australia's Test clash with the West Indies at Optus Stadium.
A group of young fans had unfurled the banner in support of Justin Langer, who quit as Australia coach after being offered just a six-month contract extension.
The situation was much more political this time, given the enormous loss of life in the Middle East.
On the eve of the Test against Pakistan, Khawaja took to social media to explain why he had chosen to speak out on the crisis.
“This is close to my heart,” Khawaja said on social media.
“When I see thousands of innocent children dying without any repercussions or remorse, I imagine my two girls. What if this was them? No one chooses where they are born.”
A banner reading 'Justice for JL' was removed by security during Australia's Test match with the West Indies at Optus Stadium in 2022
Australian Cricketers Association chief executive Todd Greenberg said Khawaja had handled the controversy over his boots in a professional and mature manner.
He said the ACA would support Khawaja's bid to get ICC approval to wear the boots in future matches.
“I get the feeling that some people in the wider society like to see athletes and profile people giving opinions, but only if those opinions align with them,” Greenberg told SEN.
“I think it's much better to see people who are authentic, like Uzzie.
“If he wants to support a particular cause, we will support him.
“We want our athletes to be heroes. We want people to look up to them.
“And to do that, we need them to be authentic, and we need to be that regularly and consistently, not just on the simple issues, but perhaps even more importantly on the tougher ones.”