The International Cricket Council has come under fire after chairman Jay Shah expressed support for the Indian military after the ICC previously banned Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja from promoting a peace symbol.
Shah, the son of India‘s Home Affairs Minister, shared a message on Instagram praising the Indian armed forces amid escalating tensions with Pakistan.
‘Our armed forces are our pride and no words are enough to express their valour and commitment in protecting our motherland and people,’ Shah wrote.
‘We salute our brave men and women in the armed forces who are shielding our nation from terrorism.’
His comments were posted after India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ in response to a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which killed 27 civilians.
India blamed Pakistan-based militants for the attack and responded with missile strikes across the border.
Usman Khawaja has been unwittingly dragged into the India and Pakistan conflict after comments made on social media by the ICC boss
India’s cricket chief Jay Shah is also chairman of the sport’s world body, the International Cricket Council, and has made public comment supporting India’s military
Pakistan retaliated with drone and artillery attacks, triggering a dangerous escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
India then suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, a decades-old agreement that governs water sharing between the two countries, further inflaming diplomatic tensions.
The conflict caused both cricket boards to scramble, with the Indian Premier League [IPL] suspended for a week and the Pakistan Super League [PSL] relocated to the UAE.
While cricket operations were disrupted, the ICC chairman’s post supporting the Indian military during the conflict drew fire globally.
Veteran journalist Malcolm Conn took to X to voice his outrage.
‘So Usman Khawaja is banned by the ICC from putting a dove on his bat supporting peace in the Middle East but ICC chairman Jay Shah… can openly support the Indian military during conflict. Staggering hypocrisy!!!’ Conn posted.
Khawaja, a vocal advocate for human rights, had previously been reprimanded for attempting to display humanitarian slogans and a peace dove during the 2023 Boxing Day Test.
The messages, ‘Freedom is a human right’ and ‘All lives are equal,’ were initially visible on his shoes before he was forced to tape over them under ICC orders.
ICC chairman Jay Shah posted this message of support for the Indian military on his Instagram Story
Veteran Australian cricket reporter Malcolm Conn lashed Shah for his post which he labelled as hypocrisy
He also wore a black armband during the match, which the ICC declared a breach of uniform regulations.
Khawaja defended his actions, stating, ‘I’m raising my voice for human rights. For a humanitarian appeal. If you see it any other way, that’s on you.’
His plan to use a dove symbol, referencing Article One of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, was also rejected by the ICC despite Cricket Australia’s backing.
The rejection prompted widespread backlash, especially after Shah’s open political support went unpunished.
Critics accused the ICC of applying a blatant double standard based on Shah’s nationality and influence.
‘Promoting peace is ‘political’, but nationalistic displays by those in power are acceptable?’ one user wrote.
‘The double standards are loud and clear. Sports should unite, not be used selectively.’
Others suggested the ICC was no longer operating independently.
Australians had included a peace dove on their bats in the series against Pakistan but were ordered to remove them by the ICC
Usman defied ICC orders to wear a symbol of a dove on his shoes during a net session in the middle of a Test series against Pakistan
‘This is called Power & Influence of India over the ICC,’ a fan posted.
Supporters of Shah, however, defended his remarks.
‘Jay Shah is Indian first. Becoming ICC chairman doesn’t mean he can’t support his country,’ one supporter argued.
Another wrote, ‘He is commenting as an Indian and not as ICC Chief. There is a huge difference between both.’
Indian fans accused critics of Western hypocrisy and bias against India’s right to defend itself.
‘Typical Western double standards on full display! Shah is first and foremost an Indian citizen… If that offends anyone, tough luck,’ one post read.