Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja, speaking to media in Melbourne about a black armband he wore in the first Test against Pakistan, says it was for a "personal bereavement" and not politically motivated after the star batter was reprimanded by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The 36-year-old donned the armband during the team's 360-run victory in Perth, a move seen at the time as support for people in Gaza, where thousands have been killed. He had also wanted to wear shoes emblazoned with the hand-written slogans "Freedom is a human right" and "All lives are equal" during the match, saying he had been hit hard by the Israel-Hamas conflict. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES