The ban on pro-Palestine banners in the PAK vs AUS Tests will continue at the Boxing Day Test and the 3rd Test as well. During the 1st Test at the Perth Stadium, security personnel ousted supporters who carried out banners in support of Palestine, days after Usman Khawaja came out in support. The same rule will be implemented at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and The Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
As per The Age, MCG and SCG have affirmed to Cricket Australia’s terms and conditions of entry, which applies to all ticket holders and says, among a range of other conditions, that patrons “will not: wear or otherwise display commercial, political, religious or offensive signage or logos”. This rule will apply for all the Tests for the remainder of the Australian summer.
What happened in Perth?
As per a Fox News report, a section of the fans displayed a banner for 10-15 minutes during AUS vs PAK 1st Test on Sunday that read: All Lives Are Equal. Freedom is a Human Right.
However, stadium security removed the fans for “anti-social” behaviour and took down the banner. Before leaving the stadium, the fans shouted: Free Palestine.
“A sign was removed because it contravened Cricket Australia’s terms and conditions of entry. Some patrons were removed because of anti-social behaviour, not because of the sign,” a stadium spokesperson was quoted by Fox News.
What does ICC say?
As per ICC, displaying any sort of political message during an international cricket match is an offense. A player can be stopped from taking the field or suspended. Even former India captain MS Dhoni had to change his wicketkeeping gloves because it had Indian army insignia.
ICC rule: “Players and team officials shall not be permitted to wear, display or otherwise convey personal messages on their clothing, equipment or otherwise, irrespective of whether such messages are affixed to clothing, equipment or otherwise and whether such messages are displayed or conveyed through the use of the specific clothing or other items (e.g. an arm band) or by the use of words, symbol, graphic message, images or otherwise (“Personal Messages”), unless approved in advance by both the player or team official’s board and the ICC cricket operations department.”
“Approval shall not be granted for messages which relate to political, religious or racial activities or causes.”
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