After ICC banned Usman Khawja’s symbol of Peace in Pakistan’s Australia tour, he displayed the dove symbol in the BBL match.
Khawaja Displays Symbol of Peace in BBL
The Australian batter Usman Khawaja has displayed the dove and olive branch symbol in the BBL 2023-24 which was banned by ICC during the test series against Pakistan on home tour.
The image was approved by the Australian Cricket Board before the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan but despite Khawaja’s submission to the ICC which was denied to use it in the game.
But ICC has no oversight on the BBL as it is a domestic tournament. The Symbol was on the back of his bat that he started the innings with. But he broke it in the first over and the replacement bat does not contain the symbol.
He wanted to raise awareness of the Gaza conflict in his shoes but that was stopped by the ICC.
He also wore a black armband on the humanitarian crisis, which before the Melbourne test Khawaja said was due to a personal loss.
“They asked me on day two [in Perth] what it was for and told them it was for a personal bereavement,” he said about 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.”
Khawaja has spoken about the impact he has had with images coming out of the conflict in Gaza. “When I’m looking at my Instagram and seeing innocent kids, videos of them dying, passing away, that’s what hit me the hardest,” he had said.
“I just imagine my young daughter in my arms and the same thing. I get emotional talking about it again. I don’t have any hidden agendas.”
“If anything this brings up more negativity towards me…I don’t get anything out of this. I just feel like it’s my responsibility to speak up on this. We live in such a beautiful country.”
“I’m blessed to live in Australia. I can walk outside, don’t have to worry about a thing. My kids can do the same. I just want that for the rest of the world.”
“I don’t do these things on a whim – this is something that has affected me for a long time. I was playing Sheffield Shield cricket before the Test series and I was really lacking motivation.”
“I talked to my wife Rachel, I talked to our sports psychologist Brent Membery and Cricket Australia and told them I really am struggling for motivation right now,” he said in an interview.
Khawaja received support from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on his Dove Symbol incident.
“I’d also like to congratulate [Usman Khawaja] for the courage he has shown standing up for human values. He has shown courage and the fact the team has backed him in is a great thing,” said Anthony Albanese.
