Former cricketer Michael Holding has slammed the International Cricket Council (ICC) over the Usman Khawaja saga. He called out the governing body’s “hypocrisy” and added that he was not surprised by their actions. The ICC charged Usman Khawaja with breaching the regulations for wearing a black armband during the first Test match against Pakistan in Perth.
Earlier, the Australian batter wanted to wear shoes with “All lives are equal” and “Freedom is a human right” written on them, to show solidarity for the people suffering due to the Israel-Hamas conflict. However, his request was turned down by the ICC. Khawaja then wore a black armband during the game. Speaking on the saga, Michael Holding lashed out at the governing body.
“I have been following the Khawaja fiasco and I cannot say I’m surprised by the ICC’s stance,” Holding told The Weekend Australian.
“If it had been most other organisations that showed some semblance of consistency with their attitude and behaviour on issues I could claim surprise, but not them. Once again, they show their hypocrisy and lack of moral standing as an organisation,” he added.
Michael Holding questions ICC’s stand on the matter
Former cricketer Michael Holding further questioned the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) stand on the Usman Khawaja saga. He asked why the board earlier allowed the players to take a knee for the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement, as well as support the LGBTQ movement.
“The ICC regulations say re messaging ‘approval shall not be granted for messages which relate to political, religious or racial activities or causes’. So how the f*** people were allowed to take a knee for BLM and stumps were covered with LGBTQ colours?” asked Michael Holding.
According to reports, Usman Khawaja has been denied permission to place a peace symbol on his bat and shoes ahead of the Boxing Day Test match against Pakistan. He had used the sticker on his bat and shoes during the training session in Melbourne.
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