AUS vs. PAK: Following the shoe scandal, Usman Khawaja dons a black armband in support of Palestine.

On the first day of Australia against Pakistan, the inaugural Test match in Perth, Usman Khawaja wore a black armband and wrapped his shoes with semi-transparent tape that read messages of solidarity for the people in Gaza.

Usman Khawaja, a Pakistani Muslim, had originally planned to wear the shoes with the handwritten phrases “All lives are equal” and “Freedom is a human right” on them during the game.

That being said, the Australian opener was barred from doing so due to International Cricket Council (ICC) regulations regarding messaging during matches, particularly those pertaining to politics, religion, or race. In accordance with these regulations, Cricket Australia asked players to follow suit. Sensing frustration, the southpaw taped over the phrases, rendering the lettering unreadable unless viewed up close and in the hues of the Palestinian flag.

Usman Khawaja symbolic deed had been spurred by the battle in Gaza, which had been brought on by Hamas attacks into Israel on October 7 that claimed 1,200 lives. In support of a UNICEF video he posted on Instagram to raise awareness of the situation in Gaza, Cricket Australia said that he wore the armband. “Do people not care about innocent humans being killed?” he had asked in a comment on the same video.

Usman Khawaja denounces the ICC

The 36-year-old complained about the ICC’s rules, citing what he saw as unfair discrimination against players who publicly supported other political movements without repercussions. Within the confines of cricket rules, the gifted batter—who was renowned for his graceful strokes and calm demeanor on the field—found a novel means of expressing his humanitarian message.

“I simply believe that a great deal of historical precedent has been set. I imply that I fully endorse Black Lives Matter. A good number of guys have already written on them. Although the ICC has never stated as much, other men who wear religious symbols on their gear are technically not permitted by the criteria. They came down hard on me, but they don’t always come down hard on everyone else, which kind of disappoints me. According to Fox Cricket, Khawaja stated, “That was probably the most frustrating part.”