Usman Khawaja (Twitter)
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Usman Khawaja (Twitter)Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja has expressed his gratitude to his supporters following the controversy surrounding his decision to wear shoes emblazoned with pro-Palestine messages during a training session ahead of the Australia-Pakistan Test series.
The slogans on Al-Khawaja’s shoes read: “Freedom is a human right” And “All lives are equal.” Despite his intention to wear it during the first Test, Cricket Australia, citing the International Cricket Council (ICC) guidelines on political statements, issued a statement rejecting the move.
In response, Al-Khawaja, in a tweet on Twitter, thanked those who stood by him, saying:
“Thank you to all those who supported me and gave me love this week. It has not gone unnoticed. Nothing worthwhile is easy. History shows that we are doomed to repeat the mistakes of our past. But together we can fight for a better future.”
The 37-year-old athlete acknowledged the challenges of defending his beliefs, stressing the importance of learning from history to build a better future.
Previously, Al-Khawaja pledged to appeal the ICC’s decision, stressing that he believed his actions were not a political statement.
Cricket Australia supported its players’ right to express their personal opinions but reminded them to adhere to ICC rules prohibiting the display of personal messages during matches.
The controversy highlighted Al-Khawaja’s commitment to defending human rights and freedom, especially for those who cannot speak for themselves.
Despite the setback, the cricketer remained determined to continue fighting for what he believes in, vowing to get approval to wear such a shoe in future matches. The incident underscored the delicate balance between personal expression and adherence to sporting regulations in the world of international cricket.