David Warner on Sunday backed Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja in the recent controversy surrounding his shoe. Warner in a comment on social media questioned International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision to disallow Khawaja to show solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
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In order to show solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza, the southpaw was supposed to wear a shoe with the slogan ‘All lives are equal’ in the PAK vs AUS first Test. However, the ICC stepped in to disallow the act. Khawaja pleaded with the ICC to have a “peace” symbol in the form of a dove holding olive branch on his bat. ICC denied that too. The Aussie batter wore a black armband in the PAK vs AUS 1st Test instead, but was reprimanded by ICC for the move.
Khawaja’s former teammate David Warner on Sunday backed Khawaja’s intentions, calling the whole matter ‘a joke’. Although, he is not the ex-cricketer to question ICC’s intentions. Former West Indian pacer Michael Holding had previously commented on the matter, calling out ICC’s ‘hypocrisy’.
Warner on Sunday referred to South African spinner Keshav Maharaj playing with a Hindu religious symbol on his bat without naming him. He also talked about the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement that had cricketers take their knees.
Warner in a social media post commented, “This is a joke considering another team mate has a religious sticker on his bat and so does a West Indian cricket player without for the same governing body.”
It is not a surprise that Warner jumped to the defence of Khawaja given the camaraderie they share among them. Khawaja had previously backed Warner during the Warner-Johnson saga.
However, there is very little chance that the ICC will take take Warner’s opinion into account, given the fact that ICC is yet to soften their stance on the issue.