Australian Cricketer Khawaja Sports Black Armband Following Prohibition on ‘All Lives Are Equal’ Footwear

Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja, known for his humanitarian stance, opted to wear a black armband during the first day of the test series against Pakistan after being restricted from wearing shoes with the message “all lives are equal.” The International Cricket Council (ICC) had intervened, citing its policies against political or religious statements on team gear, after Khawaja announced plans to wear these message-bearing shoes to draw attention to the loss of innocent lives in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Complying with the ICC’s ruling to avoid potential sanctions, Khawaja, who is the first Muslim to represent Australia in test cricket, chose the armband as a sign of solidarity with those suffering in Gaza. He emphasized that his message was not political or divisive, but a stand for equal value of human life.

Khawaja, born in Pakistan, expressed his commitment to speaking for the voiceless, particularly about issues close to his heart. He contributed 41 runs to Australia’s opening partnership with David Warner before being dismissed by Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Despite the ICC’s stance, Khawaja received support from various quarters, including Australia’s captain Pat Cummins and federal treasurer Jim Chalmers. Both Cummins and Chalmers voiced agreement with the message on Khawaja’s shoes, questioning the ICC’s decision to prohibit such a statement.

The Israel-Hamas war has been devastating, with the Health Ministry in Gaza reporting over 18,400 Palestinian deaths without distinguishing between civilians and combatants. Israel, on the other hand, has reported the loss of 113 soldiers in the ground offensive following an attack by Hamas on October 7, which resulted in approximately 1,200 casualties, mostly civilians, and the taking of around 240 hostages.