15 December 2023 , 20:17
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Australia captain Pat Cummins has thrown his support behind team-mate Usman Khawaja after the ICC banned him from wearing boots showing support for the people of Gaza.
Khawaja had the messages "All lives are equal" and "Freedom is a human right" written on his boots in the colours of the Palestinian flag during a training session on Tuesday, as Australia prepared for their Test clash with Pakistan in Perth. But the 36-year-old batsman ultimately decided not to wear them after the ICC reminded him of their Code of Conduct, which bans players from displaying messages related to political, religious or racial causes.
After Khawaja insisted in a video message that the statements were non-political and part of a "humanitarian appeal," skipper Cummins pledged his support to him.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Day One on Wednesday, the Australian captain affirmed: "I actually think it's one of our strongest points out there, everyone has their own passionate views and individual thoughts. I chatted to Ussie briefly about it today and I don't think his intention is to make too big of a fuss but we support him."
Asked whether the ICC had intervened, Cummins replied: "I think (Khawaja wearing the boots) drew attention to the ICC rules which I don't know if Ussie was across beforehand. But again, Ussie doesn't wanna make too big of a a fuss. 'All lives are equal' - I think that's not very divisive, I don't think anyone can have too many complaints about that."
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In his two-and-a-half-minute video message posted on social media amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, Pakistani-born Khawaja began: "I won't say much, I don't need to, but what I do want is for everyone who did get offended, somehow, to ask yourself these questions: Is freedom not for everyone? Are all lives not equal?
"To me, personally, it doesn't matter what race, religion or culture you are. Let's be honest about it, if me saying 'All lives are equal' has offended people to the point where they're calling me up and telling me off, well isn't that a bigger problem? These people obviously don't believe in what I do, and it's obviously not a handful of people who feel this way - you'd be shocked.
"What I've written on my shoes isn’t political. I'm not taking sides. Human life to me is equal. One Jewish life is equal to one Muslim life, is equal to one Hindu life, and so on. I’m just speaking up for those who don't have a voice.
"This is close to my heart. When I see thousands of innocent children die without any repercussions or remorse, I imagine my two girls - what if this was them? No-one chooses where they're born - and then I see the world turn their backs on them, my heart can’t take it.
"I already feel my life wasn't equal to others when I was growing up, but luckily for me I never lived in a world where that inequality was life or death.
"The ICC have told me I can't wear my shoes on the field as they believe it's a political statement under their guidelines. I don't believe it's so, it's a humanitarian appeal. I will respect their view and decision, but I will fight it and seek to gain approval. Freedom is a human right."