Why a Jewish cricket star is questioning Usman Khawaja’s motives after Aussie batter tried to wear a peace dove symbol to make a statement about the war in Gaza

A Jewish former Proteas batsman says he supports Usman Khawaja's move to wear a dove of peace symbol on his bat and boots, but has questioned his motives for the controversial move.

Khawaja had hoped to use images of a dove holding an olive branch, and a reference to article one of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, on one of his boots and bat during the clash with Pakistan at the MCG.

The plan was part of Khawaja's renewed effort to raise awareness of what he sees as a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Mandy Yachad, one of South Africa's small number of Jewish former international cricketers, backs the Australian opener's recent move but questions whether he is as passionate about the Israelis killed by Hamas terrorists as he is about the Palestinians who were killed by Israelis.

'I fully respect and support Usman Khawaja's right to express his opinion, especially since the symbol he has chosen is the universal symbol of peace (which we Jews pray for many times a day in our prayers) and given his statement that “all people are born free and equal in dignity and rights,” Yachad shared News Corp.

The Australian star was previously told not to wear shoes with a pro-Palestinian message

'I trust and hope, based on Khawaja's stand for human rights and equality of lives and his statement about his daughters (namely that 'when I look at my Instagram and see innocent children, videos of them dying and dying, that's what touched me the loudest…I imagine my young daughter in my arms…'), that in his personal mourning he felt the same way about the dozens of innocent children (and hundreds of others) who were slaughtered, burned, mutilated and held hostage during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.

“Or is it only now, now as a result of the conflict that has arisen as a result of that barbaric attack, that unfortunately Palestinian children are being killed, that he expresses such views?”

Khawaja has stressed that his attempt to wear slogans on his clothes in the Test series is not political.

'What I have written on my shoes is not political, I do not take sides, human life is equal to me. One Jewish life equals one Muslim life, equals one Hindu life, and so on. I am just standing up for those who have no voice,” Khawaja said.

On Tuesday, Khawaja batted with the names of his daughters Aisha and Ayla written on his boots, but he expressed frustration at the ICC's position and pointed out that teammate Marnus Labuschagne was allowed to use a bat with a sticker referencing a Bible verse.

Cricket Australia boss Nick Hockley has suggested the ICC took into account the “wider context” of the batsman's attitude when making its decision.

'My understanding is the context of the leadership in Perth Test, and the context of the leadership in creating the application [contributed],' he said.

“Again, we are working with Uzzie to find something that is impartial, non-religious, apolitical, the universally recognized symbol of peace. But I think the ICC statement raises the broader context,” Hockley said before the match on Tuesday.

The ICC rejected Khawaja's plan to wear a pigeon symbol on his shoes – the bird is the universal symbol of peace

'All lives matter' and 'freedom is a human right' were written on the star player's boots before he put tape over the messages before playing against Pakistan in the first Test

The ICC has also rejected his attempt to wear a logo of a dove carrying an olive branch (pictured above) during the Boxing Day Test.

'We didn't speak to each other yesterday. We spoke the day before and I think we worked very constructively with Uzzie over the last week to find a way that (was) impartial. I think that symbol is universally recognized as a symbol of peace.

“That said, the ICC has its own rules. I think they explained the rationale very clearly and we respect that.

“We have been very clear about that support as all our players really want to share what they believe through their own channels. I don't think the ICC has drawn up very clear rules for nothing.'