Protest banner removed during Australia vs Pakistan cricket Test at Perth’s Optus Stadium

A banner bearing a Pro-Palestinian human rights message was taken down by security staff during play yesterday in the Australia vs Pakistan cricket Test at Perth’s Optus Stadium.

Venue security removed the banner bearing the inscriptions "all lives are equal" and "freedom is a human right", and appeared to evict spectators associated with erecting the banner - although a venue spokesperson said they were not removed because of the banner.

The banner carried the same messages Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja had written on his shoes last week but which the International Cricket Council (ICC) had forbidden him from wearing during the Test.

The Australian opener had wanted to display the messages in the wake of the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Instead, he has worn a black armband during the Test and has taped over the writings on his shoes.

The issue resurfaced on Sunday when a spectator who had displayed a banner with the same words caught the attention of security.

Measuring more than 5 metres in length, the banner was hung over the railing on the fifth level at the southern end of the venue.

The spectator drew further attention by chanting pro-Palestine slogans, with security quickly furling up the banner and escorting the man out of the stadium.

Other people were also escorted out of the venue.

In a statement, Optus Stadium advised “a sign was removed because it contravened Cricket Australia's terms and conditions of entry.

"Some patrons were removed because of antisocial behaviour, not because of the sign."

Image: The Pro-Palestinian human rights banner in the stands at Optus Stadium during day four of the first Test in Perth. Credit: X.