Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja has met with Australian PM Anthony Albanese to push the government to punish Israel.
Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja has issued a passionate plea to save the children of Gaza, calling on the Australian government to increase sanctions on Israel and its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
— 10 Sport (@10SportAU) August 28, 2025
Khawaja has long stood in support of Palestine, today congratulating… pic.twitter.com/20p6eSbwuW
Nice of Uzi to wear a yellow shirt instead of the ribbon though, as a subliminal plea to Hamas to release the Israeli hostages who are languishing in Gaza. Not to mention the sneaker in Israeli-colors.
Of course, I am being facetious. Uzi is selective in his outrage. And he’s been at it for a while.
In December 2023, Khawaja attempted to wear cricket shoes emblazoned with the phrases “All lives are equal” and “Freedom is a human right”, styled in the colors of the Palestinian flag during a Test match against Pakistan. Which I find strangely appropriate; nothing says “All lives are equal” and “Freedom is a human right” my foot than expressing it on your shoes!
Then in February 2025, Khawaja went in to bat for newspaper-cricket writer Peter Lalor, who was dismissed by SEN radio for publicly sharing one-sided anti-Israel content. Khawaja – who seemingly moonlights as an expert on antisemitism – vocally defended him, arguing “Standing up for the people of Gaza is not antisemitic.”
So let’s be clear: Khawaja isn’t some brave humanitarian standing up for “justice.” He’s a selective activist who saves his outrage exclusively for the Jewish state, while giving actual terror groups and human rights abusers a free pass. Dressing it up in cricket whites and buzzwords doesn’t change the fact that he’s playing a dangerous innings – one that emboldens Hamas and demonizes Israel. And no matter how many symbolic sneakers he wears, it doesn’t disguise where his bat is really swinging.
And the irony? His nickname is “Uzi” – also the name of the iconic Israeli-made gun. Too bad he’s aiming it at the wrong target.
