ICC Investigating England Cricketer Moeen Ali's Gaza Wristbands

Moeen Ali wore wristbands that read "Save Gaza" and "Free Palestine", while batting during England's first innings of the third Test against India at the Rose Bowl in Southampton.

Southampton: England cricketer Moeen Ali risked disciplinary action after the International Cricket Council (ICC) said Monday they were "investigating" his decision to wear wristbands in support of Gaza during the ongoing third Test match against India on Monday.
Ali wore wristbands that read "Save Gaza" and "Free Palestine", while batting during England's first innings at the Rose Bowl in Southampton.
An ICC spokesman told AFP: "We're investigating and will report in due course."
The England and Wales Cricket Board have yet to comment on Ali's gesture.
The 27-year-old Ali, a practising Muslim of Pakistani descent, was photographed earlier this week helping raise funds for Gaza relief efforts in his home city of Birmingham in central England.
Ali's wristbands were only on public display for 42 minutes while he made 12 runs off 28 balls before he was caught off India seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
On Friday, Malaysian cyclist Azizulhasni Awang was warned he risked being thrown out of the Commonwealth Games if he repeated wearing gloves bearing the message "Save Gaza".
Awang could have been ejected from the 2014 Glasgow Games after wearing the gloves in competition on Thursday.
Instead the 26-year-old was given a reprimand and warned not to wear them again.
The Commonwealth Games Federation seeks to avoid its competitions being used for political means.
Though Awang insisted his message was "humanitarian" rather than politically-charged, he issued an apology.

Moeen , you are my new HERO ........ Mashallah !!!

Eid Mubarak !

ECB coming down hard on he - expect a ban if no apology

The ECB is he friend:

Quote:[size=1.35em]England have defended Moeen Ali’s right to wear wristbands demonstrating his support and sympathy for the people of Gaza when batting on the second day of the third Test against India in Southampton.[/size]

[size=1.35em]The International Cricket Council’s code of conduct bans players from displaying “messages which relate to political, religious or racial activities or causes”, and an ICC spokesman confirmed on Monday that the governing body is “investigating the matter”.[/size]

[size=1.35em]But England believe that Moeen’s messages – “Save Gaza” and “Free Palestine” – were humanitarian rather than political, after the 27-year-old had already been pictured raising money for the Gaza relief efforts in his home city of Birmingham last week.[/size]

[size=1.35em]An England and Wales Cricket Board spokesman said: “The ECB don’t believe he has committed any offence.”[/size]

[size=1.35em]There is still no confirmation of whether Moeen was given permission by the team management to wear the wristbands.[/size]

[size=1.35em]The former England coach Andy Flower was not punished by the ICC for wearing a black armband to show his opposition to Robert Mugabe’s regime when playing for Zimbabwe in 2003, and the whole England team have been given permission to wear Help the Heroes logos on their kit on Tuesday to commemorate the anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War.[/size]

Sportsmen are told to avoid making political statements. Mind you, politicians don't mind getting involved in sports

"Moeen Ali was told by the Match Referee that whilst 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."

Oh well , ICC match referee got a call from the Israeli Mossad  >

Moeen complied with the ICC request - no wristbands today.