Australia’s David Warner (R) and teammate Usman Khawaja leave at the lunch break during the first day of the first Test cricket match between Australia and Pakistan at Optus Stadium in Perth on December 14, 2023.
| Photo Credit: AFP
Australia batter Usman Khawaja has been reprimanded by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for wearing a black armband in support of Palestinians in Gaza during the first cricket test against Pakistan.
ICC regulations prevent cricketers from displaying messages of political, religious or racial causes during international matches.
Khawaja was born in Pakistan and is the first Muslim to play test cricket for Australia.
An ICC spokesperson confirmed the charge in breach of the clothing and equipment regulations to Australian media.
“Usman displayed a personal message (armband) during the first test match against Pakistan without seeking the prior approval of Cricket Australia and the ICC to display it, as required in the regulations for personal messages,” it said.
“This is a breach under the category of an other breach’ and the sanction for a first offense is a reprimand.” The charge means Khawaja can accept a warning and continue to play. However, he faces additional sanctions if he wears the armband again in the second test against Pakistan beginning on December 26 in Melbourne.