Cummins defends Khawaja over Gaza protest, says dove symbol 'not offensive'

Khawaja was charged by the ICC with wearing a black armband. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Australia captain Pat Cummins has defended Usman Khawaja's protest over the Gaza war and said the Australian rookie could «hold his head high» about his actions, which were «not offensive.»

Last week, the International Cricket Council (ICC) charged Khawaja with wearing a black uniform. armband before the first Test against Pakistan in Perth to show solidarity with people affected by war.

The batsman was also pictured at training with the messages «All lives are equal» and «Freedom is a human right». written on his cricket spikes in the colors of the Palestinian flag.

The ICC has refused permission for Khawaja to display a sticker of a black dove holding an olive branch on his bat and shoes during the second Test in Melbourne, which begins on Boxing Day.

The logo worn by the 36-year-old -old during a training session on Christmas Eve, it also had the words «01:UDHR» written on it, a reference to the first article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Khawaja wore the dove symbol on his cricket spikes during training on Sunday. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

The International Council on Criminal Justice said the stickers violated its rules against messages related to politics, religion or race.

Cummins said Khawaja was protesting. had the support of his teammates.

“We really support Ozzy,” Cummins told reporters. «He stands up for what he believes in, and I think he does it in a very respectful way.

«As I said last week, 'All lives are equal.' I don't think it's very offensive, and I would say the same about the pigeon.

“I don't know the ins and outs of the app, but I think it's pretty vanilla, dovey.

“This is Uzzi. I think he can really hold his head up high the way he does it.

“But obviously there are rules and I think the ICC has said it's not going to approve it. They make the rules and you have to accept them.”

Cummins and Khawaja training ahead of the second Test in Melbourne Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Khawaja, a Muslim, insisted the black armband he wore in Perth was due to a «personal loss» and not politically motivated.

Last week he spoke about how The conflict between Israel and Hamas has affected him.

“When I look at my Instagram and see innocent children, videos of them dying and taking their lives, that hurts me the most,” he said.< /p> p>

“I have no goals other than to try to shed light on something that I feel truly passionately and strongly.”