Lalor, a veteran cricket reporter, was removed from SEN’s coverage midway through Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka in February. The decision followed his social media activity around the conflict in Gaza, including reposts of news articles about Israeli airstrikes and the release of Palestinian prisoners. SEN chief executive Craig Hutchison informed Lalor on the final morning of the Galle Test that his services were no longer required. At the time, Khawaja publicly backed Lalor in a social media post. “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,” Khawaja posted on Instagram in February.