Azam Khan, the emerging cricket star of Pakistan, was recently thrust into the spotlight—but not for the right reasons. According to reports, the wicketkeeper-batter was fined 50% of the match fees by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for not following the rules on attire and equipment during a National T20 Cup play in Karachi.
In the National Stadium, the little hitter flew Palestine’s flag on his bat during the game between Azam Khan Karachi Whites and Lahore Blues.
But the authorities in cricket were not unaware of this approach. Later, when it became apparent that Azam Khan didn’t care, he explained that all of his bats had the same stickers.
Half of his match money was penalized to the young hitter. A source close to the board informed Geo News that the batter had earlier received a warning from the referee not to wear the unauthorized logo—Palestine’s flag—on his bat since doing so would violate the ICC rule of conduct.
It’s surprising to learn that Azam Khan has previously used the contentious sticker. According to the report, he employed it in the two previous games without being warned. A lot of people have expressed interest in the occurrence, particularly in light of the recent dedication made by another Pakistani cricket player, Mohammad Rizwan, to the ‘brothers and sisters in Gaza’ in the midst of the Israel-Palestine conflict during the just-finished ICC ODI World Cup.
Players are prohibited by the ICC from displaying political or other content.
It is noteworthy that the ICC’s attire and equipment policy expressly forbids players from wearing messages related to political, religious, or racial activity. On social media, the incident has spurred controversy. Some people support Azam Khan gesture, while others contend that politics and cricket belong apart.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has arranged a training camp in Rawalpindi for the team as they prepare for a three-match Test series against Australia. Pakistan’s three-match Test series will begin on December 6 at Canberra’s Manuka Oval with a four-day warm-up match against the Prime Minister’s XI. At Perth Stadium, Perth, the first Test of the series will begin on December 16.
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