Pakistan-born Aussie batter Usman Khawaja has said the black armband he wore in the Test match against Pakistan was for a “personal bereavement” and he would contest the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) reprimand, according to Reuters.

The Pakistan-born opener was reprimanded by cricket’s global governing body on Thursday for wearing the armband during the 360-run win over Pakistan in the series-opener in Perth.

Khawaja told reporters he would take up the reprimand with the ICC and that he only wanted consistency in the application of its rules.

“I told them it was for a personal bereavement. I never ever stated it was for anything else. The shoes were a different matter, I’m happy to say that,” the 37-year-old said at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

“But the armband (decision) made no sense to me.”