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Usman Khawaja Forced To Remove Banned Dove Sticker From Bat In Wellington Test

Usman Khawaja was forced to remove the dove logo on his bat [screengrab]Usman Khawaja was forced to remove the dove logo on his bat [screengrab]

Usman Khawaja faced yet another instance of ICC regulations barring him from protesting against the humanitarian crisis going in Gaza as he was asked to remove the banned dove sticker from his willow during the Wellington Test against New Zealand. 

The veteran Australian opener was batting on Day 3 of the first Test of the two-match series when the incident occurred after he opted to replace the equipment upon cracking his bat during the first session of play. 



Substitute Matt Renshaw came in with a few options before Khawaja made his choice and resumed the innings. Soon, however, he was asked to reconsider a sticker at the fag end of the willow, which was a dove logo with an olive branch that had earlier also got him in a row with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and he eventually had to remove it. 

Usman Khawaja Forced To Remove Dove Logo 

It was in December 2023 during the Test series against Pakistan at home that Khawaja found himself in the midst of a controversy when he was asked to remove the dove logo from his gear by the ICC match officials. 



According to the governing body's regulations, players are not allowed to carry any sign of "political protest" during international matches. 

Khawaja argued, though, he was merely signalling his support to the innocents who have lost their lives in the Gaza crisis and the dove logo acts as a symbol to raise awareness about the fatal blasts that continue to destroy the country. 

Notably, earlier in that home series the ICC had also restricted Khawaja from wearing noble messages such as "all lives are equal" and "freedom is a human right" on his playing gear. The cricketer had been reprimanded when he entered the field wearing a black armband despite stating he used the band to express grief over "personal bereavement."