- Usman Khawaja has been hit with an ICC charge
- He wore a black armband without asking permission
- Khawaja supports the Palestinians
Usman Khawaja has filed an ICC complaint after showing support for Palestine during Australia's match against Pakistan.
Khawaja, 37, wore a black armband during the first test of the summer in Perth, in a sign of solidarity with the Palestinians amid Israel's ongoing war with Gaza.
The Australian opener had previously been told he could not wear shoes with the message 'all lives are equal' during the match.
And now the ICC has confirmed that Khawaja broke their rules because they did not seek permission to wear the black armband.
'Usman Khawaja has been charged with breaching Clause F of the Dress and Equipment Regulations, which can be found on the ICC Playing Conditions page. The sanctions for breach of the regulations are set out in Appendix 2,” an ICC spokesperson told News Corp.
Usman Khawaja has been charged by the ICC for wearing a black armband against Pakistan
'Usman displayed a personal message (band) during the first Test match against Pakistan without seeking prior permission from Cricket Australia and the ICC to display it as required by the personal message rules. This is an offense that falls under the category 'other offence' and the sanction for a first offense is a reprimand.'
Black armbands are often worn by players as a gesture of respect to mark a death, but they do need permission to do so.
Ahead of the first Test, Khawaja told Fox Cricket that he felt frustrated after being forced to tape the messages on his boots.
'It's just a bit disappointing. I don't really see the controversy in it [saying] all lives matter and say freedom is a human right,” he said.
'I don't see where it becomes political… I find it difficult to accept that people find what I said distasteful.
'It makes me a bit uncomfortable that people find those words uncomfortable.
“It's been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster because I think… I'll always stand up for what I believe in, even if people don't agree with me or don't like it when I say it.
'I want to look back on my career and say, look, I stood up for my values, I respect what I did on the pitch, but I also respect myself for what I did off the pitch… that means more to me .'
A banner with the same message Khawaja wrote on his boots was removed from Optus Stadium, with Cricket Australia banning the display of similar banners for the remainder of the summer.
The banner was over five meters long and was hung over the fifth floor railing on the south side of the hall.
More to follow.