During the Wellington Test against New Zealand, Australian opener Usman Khawaja faced another instance of ICC regulations preventing him from protesting against the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Khawaja was asked to remove a banned dove sticker from his bat during Day 3 of the first Test.
The incident occurred when Khawaja needed to replace his bat during the first session of play. Substitute Matt Renshaw offered him several options, and Khawaja chose one to resume his innings. However, he was later asked to remove a sticker at the end of the bat, which depicted a dove logo with an olive branch. This logo had previously led to a dispute with the ICC, resulting in Khawaja having to remove it.
During the home Test series against Pakistan in December 2023, ICC officials directed Khawaja to remove the dove logo. ICC rules prohibit any “political protest” displays in international matches.
Khawaja defended the dove logo as a symbol of solidarity for Gaza’s victims, seeking to highlight their plight. Despite his intentions, ICC regulations remained unyielding against such expressions.
During the same home series, Khawaja was prohibited from displaying messages like “all lives are equal” and “freedom is a human right” on his gear. Despite explaining his black armband as a sign of personal grief, Khawaja faced ICC reprimand.
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