In response to Cricket Australia's caution against wearing shoes featuring rights-based slogans, Australian batsman Usman Khawaja opted for a subtle protest during the first Test match against Pakistan in Perth. Following instructions from the International Cricket Council (ICC), Khawaja, a Pakistani-born Muslim, refrained from displaying political, religious, or racial messages on his footwear. Instead, he wore a black armband and taped messages on his shoes, covering them with semi-transparent tape to comply with regulations. Cricket Australia expressed that the armband was a gesture of solidarity. Khawaja, vocal about the humanitarian aspect, shared a video on Instagram questioning the disregard for innocent lives in conflicts. Despite the ICC guidelines, Khawaja remains steadfast in his stance, referring to it as a "humanitarian appeal." The Australian captain, Pat Cummins, expressed pride in Khawaja and other squad members advocating for their beliefs.
