Usman Khawaja hits back at cricket bosses after being charged over Palestine protest – and reveals what that black armband was REALLY for

Australian opener Usman Khawaja has called for ‘consistency’ from the International Cricket Council after confirming the black armband he wore in the Perth Test was for a ‘personal bereavement’ and not a political statement.

Confirming he won’t wear shoes with handwritten slogans ‘Freedom is a human right’ and ‘All lives are equal’ in the Boxing Day Test, the 36-year-old Test star was responding to being charged by cricket’s governing body for not seeking permission to wear the armband against Pakistan.

Khawaja was given a reprimand for breaching clause F of the ICC Clothing and Equipment Regulations, with the arm band deemed a ‘personal message’ by the ICC despite the opening batter telling officials it wasn’t a political statement.

The opening batter also revealed that the black armband the ICC has charged him over (pictured) was worn to mark a personal bereavement, not make a political statement

At the MCG on Friday morning, Khawaja said he ‘followed all the regulations’ and questioned why he was being handed a penalty when other players had not for other incidents.

‘I followed all the regulations, past precedents, guys have put stickers on their bats, names on their shoes,’ he said.

‘As I said to the ICC, it was for a personal bereavement. The armband was different to my shoes.

‘My shoes are very obvious. And I, at the end of the day, I didn’t wear the shoes, I changed my mind in respect for the rules and procedures and I left it at that.

‘I think from my point of view, all I ask from the ICC is just consistency.

‘I think there’s been plenty of people who’ve not had permission to wear stuff in the past.

Usman Khawaja planned to wear boots with the messages ‘Freedom is a human right’ and ‘All lives are equal’ during the Perth test before covering the words with tape

All eyes will be on the star at Tuesday’s Boxing Day Test to see if he remains defiant enough to make a statement about the conflict in Gaza when he takes the field

‘I was very clear and open about the armband, so I’ll deal with that with the ICC and I’ll have those conversations with them.’

Khawaja last week lashed the ICC for censoring him and not allowing him to wear the shoes in Perth. He instead covered the message over with tape and wore the black armband around his left arm throughout the match.

All eyes will be on him when Australia take on Pakistan in the Boxing Day Test on Tuesday to see if he makes a separate statement when he takes the field.

Fans have already been warned off making political statements of their own with banners at the MCG after