File image of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
| Photo Credit: AP
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has praised Usman Khawaja’s braveness amid his standoff with the ICC after expressing solidarity with the victims of the battle between Palestine and Israel.
The ICC has barred the Australian opener from displaying messages of equality and freedom, particularly a dove emblem and an olive department on his sneakers, in the course of the Test collection towards Pakistan.
The resolution was primarily based on the worldwide regulation that prohibits gamers from showcasing private messages on their uniforms.
But his act has gained him an admirer within the nation’s premier who touched upon Khawaja’s gesture throughout an deal with to the Australian and Pakistan groups forward of the Sydney Test.
“I’d like to congratulate (Khawaja) for the courage he has shown standing up for human values,” Albanese mentioned. “He has shown courage, and the fact that the team has backed him in is a great thing.”
Usman Khawaja of Australia sports activities a black armband as he bats in the course of the first cricket Test towards Pakistan in Perth,
| Photo Credit:
AP
“When Ussie and Dave (David Warner) go out, it will be a very special moment, when you walk on to the SCG,” Mr. Albanese added.
The SCG Test will mark the final time Khawaja and Warner can be strolling out collectively to open the innings with the latter retiring from the normal format after the match starting on Wednesday.
Last week, Australian captain Pat Cummins had are available assist of his teammate, saying the opener’s try and deliver to the fore the humanitarian disaster in Gaza was “not offensive.”
Cricket’s international governing physique, the ICC, had rejected Khawaja’s utility to have a sticker exhibiting a black dove holding an olive department on his bat and sneakers in the course of the Boxing Day Test towards Pakistan.
“We really support Uzzy. He’s standing up for what he believes and I think he’s done it really respectfully,” Cummins had mentioned on the eve of the second Test on the MCG, which Australia gained to wrap up the collection.
“As I said last week, ‘All lives are equal’, I don’t think that’s very offensive and I’d say the same about the dove,” Cummins had mentioned.
Notably, the ICC reprimanded Khawaja for carrying a black armband throughout Australia’s 360-run win over Pakistan in Perth, the motion coming after he was barred from carrying boots with the messages “Freedom is a human right” and “All lives are equal” within the colors of the Palestinian flag in the course of the match on the Optus Stadium.
Source: www.thehindu.com
