Azam Khan, the middle-order batter representing Karachi Whites in the National T20 tournament, has been fined 50% of his match fees for breaching clothing and equipment regulations. The breach occurred during a National T20 game against Lahore Blues in Karachi, where Azam displayed Palestine’s flag on his bat.
Violation of the ICC Code of Conduct
The match referee, Mohammad Javed, summoned Azam Khan after the game and imposed a fine for displaying an unapproved logo—Palestine’s flag—on his bat. The flamboyant batter, who scored 35 runs in the match, had been warned earlier by the referee about the potential breach of the ICC code of conduct. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is a signatory to this code.
Sources reveal that Azam had previously informed the referee that all of his bats feature the same stickers. Despite the warning, he continued to display the unapproved logo in two previous National T20 Cup games. However, he faced no repercussions until the recent match against Lahore Blues.
ICC Regulation on Clothing and Equipment
The International Cricket Council (ICC) regulations stipulate that players are not allowed to display messages supporting political, religious, or racial causes on their clothing and equipment. Azam Khan’s act of displaying Palestine’s flag on his bat directly contravened these regulations, leading to the fine.
This incident echoes a similar controversy in October, where Pakistan’s cricket team expressed solidarity with Palestine during the ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup. The team displayed support and shared prayers for Palestinians suffering due to conflicts with Israel. Indian fans and cricket experts had questioned whether such displays were allowed in the tournament, but the PCB defended the players, stating that it was a personal decision.
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