Usman Khawaja refuses SEN interview after radio station’s sacking of journalist

Peter Lalor was taken off air over social media posts relating to Gaza

Australia opener snubs station after day one of first Test in West Indies

Usman Khawaja refused an interview with Australian sports radio station SEN after the first day’s play of the first Test against West Indies in Barbados, four months after the station sacked the journalist Peter Lalor due to his outspoken support of Palestinians.

Khawaja too has been vocal in protesting the deaths of tens of thousands of Gazan civilians during Israel’s 21-month military assault on the territory, after a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people and took 250 hostages on 7 October 2023. In late 2023 Khawaja clashed with cricket’s international governing body over his wishes to display messages or symbols of peace on his playing equipment during a Test. The ICC ruled that such displays would be “political” despite their vagueness and general applicability.

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