LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made a significant decision following the controversy surrounding batter Azam Khan’s display of the Palestinian flag on his bat during a National T20 Cup match.
Initially fined 50% of his match fee for breaching regulations, the board has now waived this penalty after reviewing the case.
Azam Khan, the Karachi Whites wicketkeeper-batter, found himself in trouble after he pasted the Palestinian flag on his bat during the National T20 Cup match against Lahore Blues at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi. This action led to a fine constituting 50% of his match fee, cited as a violation of clothing and equipment regulations for displaying unapproved political messaging, falling under a level-I offence.
The PCB, referring to Article 2.4 of its code of conduct for players and support personnel, highlighted Azam’s repeated failure to comply with the umpire’s directives during the match. The regulations strictly prohibit players and team officials from exhibiting personal messages on their equipment without prior approval from both their cricket association and the PCB Cricket Operations Department.
However, in response to widespread public reaction and discontent expressed on social media by cricket fans, the PCB opted to reconsider its decision. Netizens were critical of the cricket authorities’ stance, asserting that during the World Cup, cricketers openly expressed their support for Palestine on social media without facing penalties as the ICC code primarily addresses on-field activities.
Azam Khan reportedly clarified to the referee that all his bats bore the same stickers, indicating continuity in his equipment across multiple matches of the National T20 Cup. Nonetheless, he had not received any warning about the violation before the specific match in question.
While the ICC regulations for clothing and equipment strictly forbid displaying political, religious, or racial messages, the context surrounding Azam’s actions and the lack of prior warnings were pivotal in the PCB’s decision to waive the fine.
This incident has sparked discussions about the fine line between personal expression and adherence to cricketing regulations, highlighting the need for clarity and consistency in implementing such guidelines to avoid future controversies within the sport.
