Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan has been fined 50% of his match fees by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for violating clothing and equipment regulations during a National T20 Cup match in Karachi. The breach occurred when Azam displayed Palestine’s flag on his bat during the match between Karachi Whites and Lahore Blues at the National Stadium.
Azam, who informed officials that all his bats bear the same stickers, had received a prior warning from the referee not to showcase the unapproved logo. The incident resulted in a fine of 50% of his match fees, as it violated the ICC code of conduct, to which the PCB is a signatory.
Although Azam had used the same sticker in the preceding two matches, there was no official notification or warning from officials until the recent match in Karachi. ICC’s clothing and equipment regulations explicitly state that players are prohibited from displaying messages associated with political, religious, or racial activities or causes.
This development follows another incident involving Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, who dedicated his team’s record-breaking victory over Sri Lanka in the Cricket World Cup 2023 to the “brothers and sisters in Gaza” amidst the Israel-Palestine crisis. Rizwan’s statement garnered mixed reactions on social media, with some praising his stance while others argued that cricketers should refrain from making statements on global politics.
As the Pakistan cricket team prepares for a three-match Test series against Australia, the PCB has organized a training camp in Rawalpindi before the scheduled departure to Australia later this week.
