Moeen Ali warned by ICC over 'Save Gaza' wristbands
England batsman sports messages on bracelets- are they political or humanitarian?
England all-rounder Moeen Ali has been banned from wearing pro-Gaza wristbands by the International Cricket Council after donning the bracelets as England established a commanding position against India on day two of the third Test at the Rose Bowl in Hampshire.
The two wristbands, bearing the messages "Save Gaza" and "Free Palestine", were deemed to contravene the ICC's regulations on clothing, which state that players cannot wear items carrying messages without approval, and "messages which relate to political, religious or racial activities or causes" are forbidden.
The England and Wales Cricket Board had earlier defended Ali, a practising Muslim of Pakistani descent who was born in Birmingham. It issued a statement saying it didn't "believe he has committed any offence" because the wristbands were humanitarian rather than political. He had not asked for permission to wear them, it added.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
However, match referee David Boon, the former Australian batsman disagreed and warned 27-year-old Ali not to wear them again. BBC Sport reports that in a statement the ICC said: "Moeen Ali was told by the match referee that while he is free to express his views on such causes away from the cricket field, he is not permitted to wear the wristbands on the field of play and warned not to wear the bands again during an international match."
The wristbands weren't on display for long – just 28 balls, in fact – as Ali was dismissed for 12, one of only two England batsmen to fail with the bat on a day when the home side compiled 569 for seven before declaring towards the end of the second day of the third Test against India in Southampton. At lunch on the third day, the tourists were 108 for three in reply.
The Guardian notes that while the wristbands had been banned, Ali and his England teammates were today wearing Help for Heroes' logos on their shirt collars to commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of World War One.
Ali also eceived support from another British Muslim cricketer, Nottinghamshire's Ajmal Shahzad, who tweeted: "Absolutely love this! Well done Moeen bro! Keep showing your support! #PrayforGaza".
It's not the first time Moeen Ali has been involved in controversy. Last month the Daily Telegraph carried an article headlined "You're playing for England, Moeen Ali, not your religion", in which the paper criticised him for having said he was "representing the Muslim faith" and that he wore his beard "as a label".
The Telegraph declared: "If you are chosen to represent your country, that is who you represent... if Moeen Ali does not understand this matter, then perhaps Peter Moores, the England coach, can have a quiet word in his shell-like. And if Moores does not understand, he should not be the coach."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Europe roiled by attacks on Israeli soccer fans
Speed Read Israeli fans supporting the Maccabi Tel Aviv team clashed with pro-Palestinian protesters in 'antisemitic attacks,' Dutch authorities said
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Paris 2024 Olympics: a guide to the Games
In Depth Everything you need to know about the biggest event in sport
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Shane Warne tips ‘hot favourites’ England to win the Cricket World Cup
Speed Read Jos Buttler says ‘brave and smart cricket’ is the key to success and Test history will be made in the Ashes
By The Week Staff Published
-
India cricket captain Virat Kohli makes history at ICC awards
Speed Read Kohli wins three awards and named skipper of the Test and ODI teams of the year
By The Week Staff Published
-
Ashley Giles: England can win the Cricket World Cup and Ashes in 2019
Speed Read It’s a huge year for English cricket across all formats
By The Week Staff Published
-
Cricket’s ‘DNA’ under threat from cheating, ball tampering and sledging
Speed Read ICC chief David Richardson says on-field bad behaviour ‘has to stop’
By The Week Staff Published
-
Steve Smith still tops ICC Test batting rankings despite ban
Speed Read Former Australia captain remains the No.1 batsman in Test cricket
By The Week Staff Published
-
England rise to No.1 spot in the ICC ODI world rankings
Speed Read Eoin Morgan’s side overtake India as the best team in one-day international cricket
By The Week Staff Published