Usman Khawaja refuses SEN interview after journalist's sacking over Palestine support

Cricketer Usman Khawaja refused an interview with Australian sports radio station SEN after concluding the first day of the test series against West Indies in Barbados, as the platform had parted ways with journalist Peter Lalor due to his outspoken support of Palestine on social media.

The 38-year-old batter has been vocal against Israel's military offensive in Gaza since 2023. The ongoing genocide has resulted in thousands of innocent civilians being martyred, injured, or trapped under rubble, alongside a catastrophic lack of food and healthcare.

In late 2023, Khawaja had clashed with the International Cricket Council (ICC) when he was denied permission to play cricket with a symbol of peace on his bat, after which he was fined for violating ICC rules. 

Read: ICC criticized for 'double standards' after supporting Indian army but banning Usman Khawaja

Journalist Peter Lalor was removed from the freelance team of SEN during the tour of Sri Lanka in February over his social media activities related to supporting Palestine. 

According to reports, Lolar’s X feed included re-posts of news stories about Israeli attacks in Gaza and the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. 

Usman Khawaja had criticised SEN’s decision at that time, stating, “Standing up for the people of Gaza is not antisemitic nor does it have anything to do with my Jewish brothers and sisters in Australia, but everything to do with the Israeli government and their deplorable actions,” Khawaja wrote in his own social media post. “It has everything to do with justice and human rights.”

Read: "All lives aren't equal:" Usman Khawaja lashes out at Israeli attacks on Gaza 

After scoring 47 runs in a tough day for Australia's batting, Usman Khawaja was approached by team media manager Cole Hitchcock to give an interview to SEN radio hosts Bharat Sundaresan and Adam Collins. 

However, when Khawaja saw the SEN branding on the microphone, he gestured to the commentators and walked away, declining the interview. 

This was the first time Khawaja had been asked to speak to SEN since journalist Peter Lalor's sacking.