Khawaja wears black armband as Australia pummel Pakistan in Perth

Steve Smith was unbeaten on 21 alongside Warner (111 not out off 149 balls) at tea, with Pakistan facing an uphill battle to post their first Test win in Australia since 1995.

Warner has already announced he will retire at the end of the three-Test series, which also takes in clashes in Melbourne and Sydney.

But given the 37-year-old had only posted one Test century since January 2020, there were huge question marks about whether his form warranted him holding his spot until his hoped-for finale at the SCG.

Warner put those doubts to bed on Thursday, cracking 14 fours and one six on his way to triple figures.

Khawaja (41) and Marnus Labuschagne (16) were the batters to fall, while Warner was dropped on 104 when Khurram Shahzad failed to hang on to a catch above his head at mid-on.

Warner’s position in the side became a subject of public debate following an explosive column from former pace ace Mitchell Johnson.

Johnson declared Warner didn’t deserve a hero’s farewell given his poor recent form and involvement in the 2018 sandpapergate scandal.

But Warner fired back in perfect fashion, taking just 41 balls to reach his half-century before powering on to reach his ton.

Meanwhile, Khawaja’s innings looked over when he top-edged one high into the sky when he was on 21.

But Abdullah Shafique, running back with the flight, had the sun in his eyes and was left embarrassed as the ball went through his hands and rebounded off his chest for a boundary.

Khawaja’s knock was finally ended after lunch when he edged a fuller Afridi delivery behind, while Labuschange was trapped lbw by Faheem Ashraf (1-44).

In earlier pre-game TV interviews, Khawaja said there had been precedents where cricketers had been allowed to show support for other causes.

“I find it a little bit disappointing they came down hard on me, and they don’t always come down hard on everyone,” he said.

The 36-year-old batter had some high-level support, including from Australia’s cricket captain Pat Cummins and even up to the nation’s federal treasurer, Jim Chalmers.

“What was on the shoes – all lives are equal – I support that,” Cummins said. “That’s not very divisive. I don’t think anyone can really have too many complaints about that.”

Chalmers told ABC radio the ICC should allow Khawaja to wear the shoes.

“I don’t think it’s an especially controversial statement and I find it unusual, frankly, that people want to dispute that,” he said. “The lives on one side of a conflict are not worth any more or any less than the lives on the other side of a conflict.”

AAP and AP