'You just gotta laugh': Khawaja calls out 'double standards' in social ...

Usman Khawaja has taken to Instagram to call out “double standards” from the International Cricket Council after he had his application to have a symbol of peace on his shoes and bat has been rejected.

Khawaja was prevented from wearing shoes with the message “all lives are equal” and “freedom is a human right” on it during the first Test, and was subsequently censured by the ICC for wearing a black armband.

Watch Australia v Pakistan on Kayo Sports. Every Test match Live with no ad breaks during play. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial Today >

BOXING DAY TEST LIVE: ‘Pretty vanilla’ — Aussie shock over second Khawaja ban; MCG weather latest

Instead of a written message, Khawaja had hoped to display a sticker of a black dove with an olive branch - a symbol of peace - for the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan.

Khawaja wore shoes with the design during a training session prior to the fixture.

Along with the black dove, Khawaja had a reference to Article One of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on his bat.

Article One states: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”

But the ICC again denied Khawaja’s application.

Taking to Instagram on Sunday night, Khawaja uploaded a reel with Kanye West’s ‘Can’t Tell Me Nothing’ in the background as he pointed out “double standards” from the ICC, including images of teammate Marnus Labuschagne with an eagle and bible verse on his bat.

“Merry Christmas everybody. Sometimes you just gotta laugh. Cya at Boxing Day! #inconsistent #doublestandards,” he wrote, with a face palm emoji.

‘How the f***?’ Cricketing legend slams ICC for ‘hypocrisy’ over Khawaja decision

Khawaja calls out double standards.Source: SuppliedUsman Khawaja took to social media to voice his displeasure.Source: SuppliedKhawaja calls out double standards.Source: SuppliedKhawaja calls out double standards.Source: Supplied

MORE COVERAGE

Legend reveals only hope for Pakistan … and big lesson for any touring team in Australia

‘Completely unaware’: Star’s horror brain fade as Australian fightback sets up thrilling final day

Wade-Wright show as Hurricanes pair blast Renegades in berserk run chase

Pat Cummins weighed in when asked about the issue in the lead up to Tuesday’s Boxing Day Test at the MCG, believing Khawaja’s statement “isn’t very offensive”.

“I don’t know the ins and outs of the application, but I think it is pretty vanilla, a dove,” Cummins said.

“We really support Uzzy, I think he’s standing up for what he believes and I think he’s doing it really respectfully. All lives are equal and I don’t think that’s very offensive, and I’d say the same about the dove. That’s Uzzy. He can hold his head high the way he’s gone about it, but there’s rules in place, so I believe the ICC have said they’re not going to approve that. They make up the rules and you’ve got to accept it.”

Cummins says a big reason behind the recent success of the Aussie cricketing side is due to allowing each player to be themselves and express their opinions without judgement.

“That’s the environment we try to create. Everyone is at their best when they’re bringing their own self to any group. We’re talking about people here, not just talking about guys who hit a cricket ball or bowl a cricket ball, they’re real people,” Cummins said.

“I’ve spoken to Uzzy a fair bit. I won’t go into much depth, but it’s really similar to what he’s said publicly. He just sees all lives as equal, he sees the war there as a waste, and there’s a lot of loss that he’s trying to shine a light on that he thinks isn’t necessary. We support him.

“When you’re happy off the field you tend to play better and play with more freedom and clarity on the field and I think the best way to get that is to bring your own individual self to the group and we try to encourage that.

“It’s great that people like Uzzy feel like they can be themselves and stand up for things they’re passionate about within the team.”

Per The Australianand the Sydney Morning Herald, Khawaja had gained permission from both Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers Association to use the logo during the second Test.

However, his application was denied by the ICC.

It is the second time Khawaja has been reprimanded by cricket’s governing body after he donned a black armband during the first Test in respect to Palestinian lives lost in Gaza.

If players are to wear a black armband, approval must be gained to wear a black armband by the ICC as well as the relevant nation’s governing body.

But Khawaja was not given approval and was subsequently charged by the ICC for “breaching Clause F of the Clothing and Equipment Regulations”.