- Usman Khawaja can make his pigeon gesture in the BBL
- His efforts were continually beaten back by the ICC
- But it seems the BBL won't stand in his way
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Usman Khawaja gets to use a bat with a pigeon sticker this week after apparently getting the green light from the Big Bash League.
Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne will play for the Brisbane Heat against the Perth Scorchers on Wednesday before heading to Adelaide for the first Test match against the West Indies.
Veteran opener Khawaja, 36, has campaigned over the summer of Test cricket to make what he describes as 'a humanitarian' gesture but has been repeatedly hit back by the ICC.
First, he tried wearing sneakers with the messages “All lives are equal” and “Freedom is a right,” referring to the ongoing conflict in Palestine.
That was rejected by the ICC before he was banned from wearing a black armband. Khawaja argued that the bracelet was for a personal matter but it was still rejected by the governing body.
Usman Khawaja has gained momentum in his bid to send a humanitarian message
He then tried to wear sneakers with a sticker of a dove and an olive branch on them, while the same symbols were also on his bat. Cricket Australia approved the move but was again rejected by the ICC as the reference in its statement to 'the Middle East' was deemed political.
But with Cricket Australia approving the pigeon message, News Corp suggests the Big Bash would have no reason to stand in his way if he decides to display the symbol during his Heat performances.
That would mark a small victory for the 37-year-old, who has been deeply affected by the war between Israel and Hamas.
“I deeply value the right of every human being to enjoy peace, liberty and equality in dignity and rights, without regard to sex, age, colour, race, language, religion or national or social origin,” Khawaja wrote in his submission to the pigeon message must be approved.
'Some human rights are inalienable and transcend all our differences. These rights are enshrined in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), which has been ratified by all United Nations Member States.
'At a time when there is such loss of life and freedom in the world – most recently in the Middle East – I would like to promote a personal message of peace, freedom and equality by displaying an internationally recognized symbol of peace and freedom to spread – a dove with a twig – on the back of my bat along with the phrase '01: UDHR' (Logo).'
The experienced opener has been consistently set back in his efforts by the ICC
But he should be able to display a pigeon symbol during his appearances in the Big Bash
“When I look at my Instagram and see innocent children, videos of them dying and dying, that's what hit me the hardest,” Khawaja said later.
“I just imagine my young daughter in my arms and the same thing. It makes me emotional again now when I talk about it.
'For me, that's the reason I do this. I have no hidden agendas. If anything, this creates more negativity towards me. People come to attack me. I get nothing out of this. I feel like it's my responsibility to say something about this.
'We live in such a beautiful country. I am blessed to live in Australia. I can walk outside, I don't have to worry about anything. My kids can do the same. I just want that for the rest of the world.'