Australian opener Usman Khawaja announced an auction of his personally inscribed shoes, which bear the messages “All lives are equal” and “Freedom is a human right.”
On his Instagram account, Usman Khawaja revealed plans for an auction. All proceeds will go to the ‘Unicef Children of Gaza’ appeal. The bidding will run until February 12.
Khawaja, a prominent figure in cricket and an advocate for peace, initially intended to wear these slogan-adorned shoes during the first Test of a three-match series against Pakistan in Perth. However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) regulations, which prohibit messages related to politics, religion, or race, impeded this plan. Consequently, Cricket Australia (CA) requested Khawaja to comply with these rules.
In response, Khawaja covered the slogans with semi-transparent tape, rendering them partially visible only in close-up shots. The colours of these partially visible slogans matched those of the Palestinian flag. In further solidarity with Palestine, he also wore a black armband during the match.
Despite these actions, Khawaja faced reprimand from the ICC for his subtle protest against the ongoing conflict in Palestine. His commitment to raising awareness and supporting the oppressed, particularly children in Gaza, remains evident through his recent initiative to auction his shoes for a humanitarian cause.
