Usman Khawaja accuses ICC of double standards as he tapes over ‘All Lives Are Equal’ motto on shoes

Usman Khawaja covered the ‘All Lives Are Equal’ motto with white tape after being told he would be in breach of ICC regulations if he wore them with the message on display – COLIN MURTY/AFP via Getty Images

Australia’s Usman Khawaja took to the field wearing a black armband in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza after accusing the International Cricket Council of double standards for banning his “political” shoes.

Before the first Test against Pakistan, Khawaja trained this week in cricket spikes emblazoned with the words “All Lives Are Equal” and “Freedom is a Human Right”, a reference to the plight of Palestinians in the conflict in Gaza, and written in the colours of the Palestinian flag.

He was then informed that wearing them during the game would breach ICC protocol because they contained a political message, so he agreed not to on this occasion but vowed to fight the ruling.

Khawaja still wore the same trainers on day one of the first Test in Perth, but chose to cover the messages with white tape. The words could still be seen when up close.

In the meantime, on day one of the series, Khawaja wore a black armband as a show of solidarity with those caught up in the conflict in Gaza.

Khawaja wore a black armband in solidarity with the people of Gaza as he put on 126 for the first wicket with David Warner – Getty Images/COLIN MURTY

Khawaja believes the ICC have allowed others to make similar demonstrations of solidarity in the past, without censure.

“I am a grown man, I can do anything I want, but I think the ICC will keep coming down and giving me fines and at some point it will detract from the game,” Khawaja told broadcaster Channel Seven. “I stand by what I said, I will stand by that, I think forever.

“For me, I need to get out there and concentrate on what I am doing but it is right at the forefront of my mind. I will try to [challenge the ICC] as soon as possible, whenever it is possible. There already has been a precedent set in the past that ICC have allowed.

Khawaja had netted in the spikes but concealed the message for the actual match – Getty Images/Paul Kane

“A precedent set where players have done stuff in the past where the ICC hasn’t done anything. I find it a bit unfair that they have come down on me at this point in time where there definitely has been precedents in the past of similar things.”

After Australia won the toss and chose to bat, Khawaja scored 41 in an opening partnership of 126 with David Warner, who made his 26th Test century. It was an innings that put to bed any suggestion that Warner would not retire from Test cricket on his own terms, at his home ground, the SCG, next month.

Warner has recently been embroiled in a bitter row with former team-mate Mitchell Johnson, who believed he was being indulged.

Warner was eventually dismissed for 164 off 211 balls and Australia closed day one on 346 for five.

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