For displaying personal messages in the Australia vs. Pakistan Test at Perth, the ICC punishes Usman Khawaja
The opener of the Australian cricket team, Usman Khawaja, is facing charges from the International Cricket Council for a form of protest involving the donning of a black armband during the Test match against Pakistan at Perth's Optus Stadium. Khawaja's act occurred during Australia's dominant victory by 360 runs in the series' opening Test. Across two innings, the opening batsman showcased his prowess with scores of 41 and 90, contributing significantly to his team's comfortable triumph on Day 4.
Last week, Khawaja criticized the ICC for censoring him and reaffirmed his commitment to persist in advocating for messages of support for civilians in Gaza. An ICC spokesperson said, “Usman Khawaja has been charged with breaching Clause F of the Clothing and Equipment Regulations, which can be found on the ICC Playing Conditions page. The sanctions for a breach of the regulations are outlined in Appendix 2.”
“Usman displayed a personal message during the 1st Test match against Pakistan without seeking the prior approval of Cricket Australia and the ICC to display it, as required in the regulations for personal messages. This is a breach under the category of "other breach,” and the sanction for a first offense is a reprimand.”