English all-rounder Moeen Ali has been banned from wearing “Save Gaza” and “Free Palestine” wristbands till the remainder of the third Test match against India in Southampton. ICC match referee David Boon inflicted the decision upon Ali.
Earlier, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had cleared Ali to wear the bands. They stated that he was making a humanitarian statement and not a political one.
But the ICC issued the following statement on Tuesday morning: “The ICC equipment and clothing regulations do not permit the display of messages that relate to political, religious or racial activities or causes during an international match. 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.”
Meanwhile the English team are wearing the logo of the Help for Heroes charity on their shirts on Day 3 of the Test match to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the first world war.
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