<p>West Indies bowling great Michael Holding blasted the top cricket governing body after Australian bowler Usman Khawaja was accused of breaking rules by donning a black armband during the first Test match against Pakistan in Perth. Holding called the ICC’s response to the Khawaja scandal “hypocrisy and lack of moral standing” and chastised it.</p>
<p><img decoding=”async” class=”alignnone wp-image-321814″ src=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/theindiaprint.com-michael-holdings-slams-icc-over-usman-khawaja-saga-asking-why-allow-taking-knee-fo.jpg” alt=”theindiaprint.com michael holdings slams icc over usman khawaja saga asking why allow taking knee fo” width=”878″ height=”585″ title=”Michael Holdings Slams ICC Over Usman Khawaja Saga, Asking "Why Allow Taking Knee For BLM?" 3″ srcset=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/theindiaprint.com-michael-holdings-slams-icc-over-usman-khawaja-saga-asking-why-allow-taking-knee-fo.jpg 360w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/theindiaprint.com-michael-holdings-slams-icc-over-usman-khawaja-saga-asking-why-allow-taking-knee-fo-150×100.jpg 150w” sizes=”(max-width: 878px) 100vw, 878px” /></p>
<p>Khawaja had previously requested to wear shoes with the phrases “all lives are equal” and “freedom is a human right” in support of those who are suffering as a result of the Israel-Hamas war, but the ICC denied his request.</p>
<p>Holding told The Weekend Australian, “I have been following the Khawaja fiasco and I cannot say I’m surprised by the ICC’s stance.”</p>
<p>“I may have been surprised if the majority of other organizations had behaved and shown an attitude of consistency on these topics, but not them. They once again demonstrate their organizational hypocrisy and lack of moral integrity,” he said.</p>
<p>Holding expressed his opinions and used the Black Lives Matter movement as an example, which had previously received backing from the ICC.</p>
<p>“Messaging related to political, religious, or racial actions or causes will not be approved, according to the ICC standards. So how in the name of BLM were individuals permitted to take a knee, and why were LGBTQ-themed stumps painted? He asked.</p>
<p>According to recent reports, Khawaja has been refused permission to wear a peace emblem on his shoes and bat during the Test match against Pakistan on Boxing Day.</p>
<p>During Sunday’s training in Melbourne, he had a sticker on his bat and shoes that said “01:UDHR,” which is a reference to Article One of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and featured a black dove.</p>
<p>According to local media, the great hitter met with Cricket Australia many times in recent days to come up with a message suitable for this week’s second Test.</p>
<p>However, the International Cricket Council has rejected his most recent humanitarian effort, according to reports in The Australian and Melbourne Age newspapers.</p>