The Australian captain supports Khawaja and sees no difference between the dove logo, which represents human rights, and Labuschagne's recognized eagle sticker, a religious symbol.
Alex Malcolm
After the ICC rejected Khawaja's application, Australia captain Pat Cummins has said there is no difference between Usman Khawaja displaying a dove symbol on his shoes and bat and teammate Marnes Labuschagne displaying an eagle on his bat to raise awareness of humanitarian issues. To display the logo during the Boxing Day Test.
An article in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, „All men are born free, equal in dignity and rights, and are free of reason and conscience and ought to act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”
But despite permission from Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers' Association to display it, the ICC rejected his application, with an ICC spokesperson saying, „Such personal messages are not permitted under Section F of the Dress and Equipment Regulations, which can be found on the ICC's Playing Conditions page. The ICC supports overseas players' use of their sites and will encourage them to continue to use alternative sites.”
Labuschagne displays an eagle symbol on the back of his bats, which represents a verse from the Bible and has long been allowed to have the sticker on his bat in international cricket. Almost every player in the Australian team, including Khawaja, has multiple promotional stickers on their pads, which is allowed under ICC rules, including their pad/equipment sponsor and secondary personal sponsor.
On Christmas Day, 24 hours after the start of the second Test against Pakistan at the MCG, Cummins said there was no difference between Khawaja's attempt to display a religious reference and the logo representing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
„Not really, no — I don't know the ins and outs of the application, but I think it's pretty vanilla, a dove,” Cummins said.
“We really support Uzi, I think he stands up for what he believes and I think he does it with respect.
„All lives are equal, I don't think it's a very offensive thing, I'd say the same about the pigeon. That's Ussy. He can hold his head up, but there are rules for that, so believe me the ICC said they're not going to approve it. They make the rules, you do it. must accept.”
The ruling has drawn the ire of former West Indies fast bowler Michael Holding, who has accused the ICC of double standards.
„I could be surprised if it was other companies that showed some similarity with their approach and behavior on the issues, but not them,” Holding said. Weekend Australian. „Again they show their hypocrisy and lack of moral standing as an organization.”
Khawaja was accused by the ICC of violating the same clause F of the dress and equipment regulations by wearing a black armband during the first Test against Pakistan in Perth. He said he would challenge the charge, telling the governing body it was a matter of „personal grief” but said he would not wear it in the MCG Test.
Khawaja, who planned to take to the field with the words „All lives are equal” and „Freedom is a human right” written on the shoes he wore during training to raise awareness of Gaza's humanitarian crisis.
Speaking at the MCG last Friday, Khawaja said he did not believe the ICC would continue to enforce their own rules.
„They asked me on the second day [in Perth] He told them what it was for, it was for a personal mourning,” he said of the armor. „I never said it was for anything else. Shoes are another matter, I'm glad to say. I don't understand the wrist band. I've done all the regulations, past precedents, guys sticking stickers on bats, putting names on boots, all sorts of things in the past without ICC permission and never been reprimanded.
„I respect the ICC and the rules and regulations they have in place. I will ask them to compete, they make it fair and equitable for everyone and they have consistency in how they operate. That consistency has not been done yet. I have been very open. And honestly, I will deal with it with the ICC. .”
There was no official statement on when Khawaja wore the armor on the first day in Perth, but it is understood to be related to a video he posted on social media after being told he could not display messages on his boots at the time.
Alex Malcolm is Associate Editor at ESPNcricinfo
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