Usman Khawaja is BANNED from repeating his Palestine cricket protest despite backing down over messages on his shoes

Defiant opening batsman Usman Khawaja has been banned from repeating his human rights protest at the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan on Tuesday. 

The cricket star is also open to sanctions from the International Cricket Council over the black armband he wore during the first Test in Perth to show support for civilians in Gaza.

The 36-year-old donned a black armband to showcase his stance on the lives lost in the Israel-Palestine conflict during Australia’s 360-run victory over Pakistan.

Before the first Test, Khawaja was banned by Cricket Australia and the ICC from wearing shoes bearing the messages ‘freedom is a human right’ and ‘all lives matter’.

Khawaja taped over messages he’d written on his shoes to show support for civilians in Gaza after being warned off by the ICC and Cricket Australia

Khawaja covered the message on his shoes with tape and decided to wear a black armband around his left arm instead.

He sought permission from Cricket Australia and the ICC to wear the shoes with the messages displayed when he plays Pakistan in Melbourne, but that has been rejected by CA.  

Black armbands are often worn by players as a gesture of respect to mark bereavements – however, they are required to get permission to do so.

The armband Khawaja wore was not approved by the governing body, News Corp reported.

The ICC has not commented on whether Khawaja will face sanction over the incident, but the starting point for any breach of the rules is an official reprimand.

The opener might continue to wear the armband during the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, as he has promised to continue messages of support for civilians in Gaza.

Speaking before the start of the First Test, Khawaja told Fox Cricket he felt frustrated after he was forced to cover the messages on his shoes with tape.

The opener reportedly did not have approval to don the black armband during the first Test

‘It’s just a little bit disappointing. I don’t really see the controversy of [saying] all lives matter and saying freedom is a human right,’ he said.

‘I don’t see where it becomes political … I find it hard to accept where people find what I said distasteful.

‘It makes me feel a little bit uneasy that people find those words uneasy.

‘It’s been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster for, I guess … I’ll always stand up for what I believe in, even if people don’t agree with me or don’t like me saying it.

‘I want to look back on my career and say, look, I stood up for my values, I respect what I did on the field, but I also respect myself for what I did off the field…that means more to me.’

Khawaja has promised to continue his support for civilians caught up in the Gaza conflict

Asked for his emotional reaction when the ban was confirmed, Khawaja said he was exasperated because he saw it as the sport adopting a double standard.

‘So much has happened in the past that sets a precedent,’ he said.

‘I am in full support of Black Lives Matter [which the Australian team supported by taking a knee in a 2022 Test against the West Indies].

‘There are plenty of guys who have written on their shoes before. Other guys, they have religious things on their equipment.

‘Under the ICC [International Cricket Council] guidelines that’s not technically allowed, but the ICC never says anything on that.

‘So I’m a little disappointed they came down hard on me and they don’t always come down hard on everyone else.

‘All I can do is fight it [the ban] appropriately and however I can.’