Australia captain Pat Cummins confirms Usman Khawaja will not wear written messages on his shoes in the first Test against Pakistan due to ICC regulations. ICC prohibits personal messages on clothing or equipment without prior approval. Khawaja had “all lives are equal” and “freedom is a human right” on his batting spikes at training, referencing the war in Gaza. He has consistently posted similar messages on social media. Cricket Australia released a statement supporting players expressing personal opinions but expects players to uphold ICC rules. Federal sports minister Anika Wells expressed support for Khawaja’s right to speak up on important matters in a peaceful and respectful way.
