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Usman Khawaja, who informed the governing body that he
was wearing the black armband because of a “personal bereavement,”
would contest his ICC charge for wearing it during the first Test match against
Pakistan in Perth. He also stated that he will not be wearing the wristband
during the MCG Test, which begins on Boxing Day.
Khawaja donned the armband despite his initial
intention to walk onto the pitch bearing training-related insignia on his
shoes—”all lives are equal” and “freedom is a human
right”—in an effort to draw attention to the humanitarian situation in
Gaza.
Speaking at the MCG on Friday, Khawaja said that he
did not believe ICC were implementing their own regulations consistently.
“They asked me on day two [in Perth] what it was
for and told them it was for a personal bereavement,” he said of the
armband. “I never ever stated it was for anything else. The shoes were a
different matter, I’m happy to say that. The armband makes no sense to me. I
followed all the regulations, past precedents, guys that put stickers on their
bats, names on their shoes, done all sorts of things in the past without ICC
approval and never been reprimanded.
“I respect the ICC and the rules and regulations
they have. I will be asking them and contesting they make it fair and equitable
for everyone and they have consistency in how they officiate. That consistency
hasn’t been done yet. I was very open and honest with that. I’ll deal with that
with the ICC.”
Under the level that Khawaja has been charged with, a
reprimand is the most serious punishment so if that did eventuate it would not
leave him in any doubt for the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan. Even a fourth
such sanction in a 12-month period would only be a penalty of 75% of the match
fee rather than a suspension.