The Australian opener Usman Khawaja has said the cricket writer Peter Lalor “deserves better” after he was dropped from radio coverage of Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka for his social media posts relating to the war in Gaza.
Lalor, the former longtime chief cricket writer for The Australian who has appeared on SEN radio coverage for 10 years, revealed he had been dumped during the first Test in Galle in a message to subscribers of his Cricket Et Al substack on Monday night. “I figured, at some point, there would be an attempt to take me down and it has happened,” he said.
“I was told there were accusations I was antisemitic which I strongly objected to. I was told my retweeting was not balanced, and insensitive to one side and that many people had complained.”
Khawaja, who scored a double century in the match during which Lalor was dumped, posted on Instagram saying the news was “unbelievable”.
“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,” he said. “It has everything to do with justice and human rights.”
Lalor was told he would not be part of the coverage on Saturday, the fourth morning of the match, won easily by Australia.
“I was asked by station boss Craig Hutchison, who was civil, if I didn’t care that my retweeting of events in Gaza made Jewish people in Melbourne feel unsafe. I said I didn’t want anyone to feel unsafe,” Lalor said.
Hutchison issued a statement saying he and Lalor have “different views” of the impact of the writer’s social media activity on the community.
“SEN Cricket is a celebration of differences and nationalities and a place where our SEN audience can escape what is an increasingly complex and sometimes triggering world,” he said.
“We respect Pete as a journalist and long-time contributor to the game but also acknowledge the fear that many families in our community feel right now, and we also need to respect that.”
Guardian Australia has sought comment from SEN radio and Hutchison. (Guardian)
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