PAK vs AUS: "Writing Your Kids' Names..." - David Warner Comes Out In Usman Khawaja's Support

Australian opener Usman Khawaja has been under the headlines due to the reprimand that he received from the ICC due to the black armband he wore without the consent of the governing body during the first AUS vs PAK Test in Perth. Khawaja was showcasing his protest against the Israel-Hamas war and also to the war victims of Gaza.

Australian opener David Warner, who has been opening the innings with Usman Khawaja, has praised his partner and has stated that Khawaja has always been like a leader in the dressing room. Khawaja has always put his hand to help from his young days and he has also received a lot of respect from a lot of people.

David Warner heaps praise on Usman Khawaja

The veteran opening batsman Usman Khawaja was seen wearing the names of his two daughters on his shoes and Warner talked about this.

David Warner said, “Writing your kids’ names, for me it’s sentimental, they’re always with me and that’s something that he decided to do,” Warner said. “But he’s been fine. He’s put his statement out there that he believes in, that all lives are equal.

“He wouldn’t have made that statement if he didn’t feel like he could take the criticism. He knew that he would get criticism. And, at the end of the day, he’s a big boy and I just said to him, ‘you just got to keep believing what you believe in and move on and get on with cricket’. And he’s done that pretty well.”

“He’s always been a leader around the group. Even at New South Wales, when we were young, he’s always been that guy that’s always put his hand up to help. Especially with his community stuff. The work that goes on behind the scenes that he does for his community and his foundation is outstanding, and I think that’s the person that he is. He’s got a lot of respect from a lot of people.”

"Uzzy's always been a leader around the group" – David Warner throws his support behind his good mate and opening partner #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/2ehSLAZZE2

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 26, 2023

Usman Khawaja and David Warner added 90 runs on the first day of the second AUS vs PAK Test match being played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Khawaja played a knock of 42 runs off 101 balls which included five fours.

Usman Khawaja also scored 131 runs during the first Test match of the series and played innings of 41 and 90 runs in both innings of the match. ICC reprimanded Khawaja for wearing a black armband without their permission and he could have also faced a ban.

Usman Khawaja was reprimanded for breaching the ICC’s code of conduct which mentions that a player cannot write any religious, political, or racist message on any cricketing equipment. Khawaja was about to wear shoes where he had handwritten a message, which read, “Freedom is a human right” and “All lives are equal”.

ICC had banned Usman Khawaja from wearing the shoes after which he entered the AUS vs PAK first Test from wearing a black armband.

On the other hand, David Warner is playing his last international Test series during the AUS vs PAK series. Warner played a knock of 164 runs during the first Test match and became the hero of Australia’s 364-run win.

Usman Khawaja has had a tremendous year for Australia in 2023 and has scored runs in every part of the world. Khawaja scored a lot of runs against India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and has been Australia’s go-to batsman in winning the World Test Championship.

With David Warner retiring from Test cricket, Usman Khawaja will have the onus to take the team forward in Warner’s absence and build good chemistry with his next opening partner.

Getting back to the AUS vs PAK second Test match, the hosts finished Day 1 at 187/3 as Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head were present at the crease.