English test cricket Moeen Ali has been banned from wearing “Save Gaza” and “Free Palestine” wristbands in the remainder of the third Test against India in Southampton.
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.”
Moeen, a devout Muslim who welcomes the position of role-model and says he wears a long beard as he “wants people to know I am a Muslim,” wore the wristbands on the first two days of the third Investec Test between England and India at The Ageas Bowl.