Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja refused to participate in a post-game interview with sports media outlet SEN after day one of the first Test against the West Indies in the Caribbean, following SEN's controversial dismissal of journalist Peter Lalor earlier this year for posting about the Gaza conflict on social media.
Khawaja, who scored 47 runs in Australia's first innings total of 180 in Bridgetown, declined to speak when he spotted an SEN microphone, informing reporters Adam Collins and Bharat Sundaresan of his decision.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Lalor, who was fired by SEN during a Test match in Galle after sharing tweets about Israeli airstrikes and Palestinian prisoners while covering Australia's tour of Sri Lanka in February, expressed his appreciation for Khawaja's support.
"Usman is a man of principle whose support I valued greatly when I was dismissed and whose ongoing support I appreciate," Lalor stated.
Khawaja has been vocal about human rights issues, particularly regarding the situation in Gaza. He wore a black armband during the first Test in Perth and attempted to wear shoes with messages supporting human rights before being stopped by cricket authorities.
The cricketer was prevented by Cricket Australia and the ICC from displaying messages reading "freedom is a human right" and "all lives matter" on his shoes during the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan at the MCG.
"It's just a little bit disappointing. I don't really see the controversy of [saying] all lives matter and saying freedom is a human right," Khawaja said about the shoe incident.
"I don't see where it becomes political ... I find it hard to accept where people find what I said distasteful. It makes me feel a little bit uneasy that people find those words uneasy."
"It's been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster for, I guess... I'll always stand up for what I believe in, even if people don't agree with me or don't like me saying it."
"I want to look back on my career and say, look, I stood up for my values, I respect what I did on the field, but I also respect myself for what I did off the field... that means more to me."
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