Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja has reportedly been denied permission to display a peace symbol on his bat and shoes during the upcoming Boxing Day Test against Pakistan. The symbol, featuring a black dove and the inscription “01:UDHR,” a nod to Article One of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, was visible in his gear during a training session in Melbourne.

Khawaja, a prominent batsman, engaged in multiple discussions with Cricket Australia in recent days, attempting to find a message deemed appropriate for the second Test this week. However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected his latest humanitarian gesture, according to reports from The Australian and Melbourne Age newspapers.

This is not the first time Khawaja has faced challenges regarding messages in his gear. In the initial Test in Perth, he was prohibited from wearing shoes with hand-written slogans supporting human rights and expressing solidarity with the people of Gaza. The slogans, reading “Freedom is a human right” and “All lives are equal,” were deemed in violation of ICC rules on messages related to politics, religion, or race.

While the ICC has not officially commented on the recent denial, Khawaja’s previous experience suggests strict adherence to regulations on messages displayed by players.

The cricketer, who is of Muslim faith, expressed his dismay over the Israel-Hamas conflict, particularly highlighting the impact on innocent children. Despite facing restrictions on his messages, Khawaja remains committed to using his platform to bring attention to causes he feels strongly about.

“I don’t have any agendas other than trying to shine a light on what I feel really passionately, really strongly about,”

Khawaja stated on Friday, underscoring his dedication to humanitarian concerns beyond the cricket field.