First Muslim cricketer to represent Australia to challenge pro-Palestine shoe ban

LONDON: Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja has vowed to challenge an International Cricket Council directive that prohibits him from wearing shoes with messages deemed “political” during the upcoming first Test against Pakistan, The Telegraph reported.

During training in Perth on Tuesday, Khawaja was seen wearing spikes featuring the phrases “all lives are equal” and “freedom is a human right,” in solidarity with the Palestinians suffering under Israel’s war on Gaza.

The two-month-long campaign of airstrikes and ground assaults in Gaza has killed more than 18,500 Palestinians, many of them women and children, according to Palestinian officials.

Khawaja, who was the first Muslim cricketer to represent Australia, had planned to wear these shoes in the first Test starting on Thursday. However, ICC rules allow the match referee to bar players from the field for wearing attire that violates regulations.

While Khawaja has accepted the ICC’s decision for now, he is committed to overturning it and aims to wear the shoes during Melbourne’s Boxing Day Test, The Telegraph reported.

All Lives are Equal. Freedom is a Human right. I'm raising my voice for human rights. For a humanitarian appeal. If you see it any other way. That's on you... pic.twitter.com/8eaPnBfUEb

— Usman Khawaja (@Uz_Khawaja) December 13, 2023

He took to social media to voice his opinion, stating, “The ICC have told me I can’t wear my shoes on field because they believe it’s a political statement under their guidelines,” Khawaja said on social media. “I don’t believe it is 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, and all lives are equal. I will never