Sports

Fans slam PCB over fining Azam Khan for supporting Palestine

Published

5 months ago

Farwa

Cricket fans expressed their anger over the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on social media over its decision to slap batter Azam Khan with a fine for displaying the Palestinian flag on his bat during the ongoing National T20 Cup.

The wicketkeeper batter has been asked to give up 50% of his match fees for breaching clothing and equipment regulations (displaying an unapproved logo/political messaging) in a match on Sunday in Karachi.

The flamboyant batter, who is presenting Karachi Whites, scored 35 against Lahore Blues during the match. After the match, the batter was summoned by match referee Mohammad Javed and was informed of the fine.

Sources privy to the matter confirmed to Geo News that the young batter was fined 50% of his match fees. He was earlier warned by the referee not to display the unapproved logo (Palestine’s flag) on his bat as it would be a breach of the ICC code of conduct, of which PCB is also a signatory.

Azam had, according to sources, informed the referee that all of his bats had the same stickers.

The ICC regulation for clothing and equipment states that players shall not be allowed to display messages that carry political, religious, or racial activities or causes.

Sources confirmed that Azam had the same sticker on his bat during two previous games of the National T20 Cup. However, no one had warned him before Sunday’s game.

In October, during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, several Pakistani players showed their firm support for Palestinians suffering at the hands of Israel.

Indian fans and cricket experts had raised questions on the players’ constant support for Palestine on their social media channels, asking the cricket’s governing body whether such moves were allowed in the tournament.

At that time, the PCB had rejected the objections over players’ conduct saying: “The team’s expression of solidarity was a personal decision.”

But the PCB’s decision to penalise the batter has left the netizens angry who have slammed the cricket authorities.

However, it is important to clarify here that during the 10-team tournament, the cricketers posted statements and pictures on their social media channels.

The ICC code is meant for on-field activities and off-the-ground actions are beyond their scope.

Here’s how the social media users have reacted:

When your own board is imposing fines for showing support for Palestine and you expect the enemy to show respect. Hypocrites everywhere #ShameOnPCB pic.twitter.com/NLvyY2xdxu
— Dr Kashif💉🩺 (@kashi_if) November 27, 2023

Disappointed with @TheRealPCB's decision penalizing #AzamKhan for a simple act of solidarity by putting a Palestine sticker on his bat. Pakistan claims to be an Islamic Republic, yet stifles its own players from expressing support for Palestine? Where's the justice?#ShameOnPCB pic.twitter.com/0eiv4dvdWF
— Ali Nawaz 🇵🇰 (@alinawaz__arain) November 27, 2023

Azam Khan has been fined for putting a #Palestinian flag on his bat during a domestic match. I wonder why @TheRealPCBMedia did this. #PSL2024 #ShameOnYouZaka #ShameOnPCB
We are Proud of you Azam Khan #Palestine #IsraeliNewNazism #PalestinaLivre pic.twitter.com/aQ80bzM2XC
— Khurram🇵🇰 (@KhurramRANA21) November 26, 2023

Do it again Azam Khan I'm with you pic.twitter.com/BhjNXgTZHf
— 𝗭𝗨𝗡𝗔𝗜𝗥𝗔 🏏🇵🇰 (@ItxmeZuni) November 26, 2023

Latest News

The women’s team from Pakistan travels to England for a white-ball series.

Published

2 days ago

Farwa

The national squad left Karachi earlier today to play three Twenty20 Internationals and three One-Day Internationals in the series.

Dr. Muhammad Faisal, Pakistan’s High Commissioner in England, greeted the women’s team and management.

The team will soon depart for Leicester to play a practice match on 9 May against the ECB Development XI. On May 11, in Birmingham, the first Twenty20 International will take place.

Notably, this will be Pakistan’s eighth and final series of the current event cycle. The ODIs in the series are a part of the ICC Women’s Championship 2022–25.

Pakistan women squad for England tour

Nida Dar (captain), Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Gull Feroza, Muneeba Ali (wk), Najiha Alvi (wk), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani and Waheeda Akhtar

Player support personnel: Nahida Khan (manager), Mauhtashim Rasheed (interim head coach), Saleem Jaffar (bowling coach), Taufeeq Umar (batting coach), Hanif Malik (fielding coach), Syed Nazir Ahmed (media manager), Rabia Siddiq (physiotherapist), Zubair Ahmed (analyst) and Hina Munawar (chief security officer)

Tour Schedule

9 May – T20 warm-up game v ECB Development XI, Uptonsteel County Ground (11.00 am local time)

11 May – 1st T20I, Birmingham (2.30 pm local time)

17 May – 2nd T20I, Northampton (6.30 pm local time)

19 May – 3rd T20I, Leeds (1.00 pm local time)

21 May – One-Day warm-up game v ECB Development XI, Northampton (11.00 am local time)

23 May – 1st ODI, Derby (1.00 pm local time) (ICC Women’s Championship)

26 May – 2nd ODI, Taunton (11.00 am local time) (ICC Women’s Championship)

29 May – 3rd ODI, Chelmsford (1.00 pm local time) (ICC Women’s Championship)

Latest News

Pakistan releases their England against Ireland team, and Hasan Ali is back.

Published

6 days ago

Farwa

The men in green will play a three-match series against Ireland before taking on England in a four-match series.

The 18-player roster now includes Salman Ali Agha, Hasan Ali, and Haris Rauf, who were all reinstated by the national selection committee.

Turn off the silence
Zaman Khan and Usama Mir, meanwhile, were left off the final roster.

Continue reading: Ramiz Raja selects Pakistan’s starting combination for the 2024 T20 World Cup

After the first Twenty20 International at Leeds on May 22, the team will be whittled down to 15 players for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 next month in order to meet the ICC’s deadline of May 24.

Pakistan squad for Ireland and England series:

Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Irfan Khan Niazi, Iftikhar Ahmad, Usman Khan, Azam Khan (wk), Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Salman Ali Agha.

Ireland vs Pakistan T20I series:

10 May: First T20I in Dublin (7pm PST)

12 May: Second T20I in Dublin (7pm PST)

14 May: Third T20I in Dublin (7pm PST)

England vs Pakistan T20I series:

May 22: First T20I in Leeds (10:30pm PST)

May 25: Second T20I in Birmingham (6:30pm PST)

May 28: Third T20I in Cardiff (10:30pm PST)

May 30: Fourth T20I at The Oval, London (10:30pm PST)

Latest News

Gary Kirsten hopes to provide players with “clarity” prior to the Twenty20 World Cup.

Published

1 week ago

Farwa

When Kirsten featured on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) podcast, she acknowledged the difficulty of making quick adjustments but expressed optimism that the squad could establish a structure over the next three weeks, giving the players plenty of time to prepare for the World Cup.

He added that they have been communicating as a squad and praised Azhar Mahmood for his outstanding work as the “interim head coach.”

“I happen to be working on an assignment right now. Moving away was therefore challenging. I need to look over my contract right now.

But the arrangements are set in motion. In his role as acting head coach, Azhar Mahmood is performing admirably. Right now, we’re speaking with each other. I’m learning about the squad and their style of play.

It’s lovely to see them play. I have to be in the room, but I have to keep my distance. Although we communicate as a team, he is now in charge. I don’t want to take the lead from a distance because I don’t believe it is a good place to be. Actually, it’s not easy, but we’re trying our hardest.

“It’s going to be a fast turnaround (for me), we just need to acknowledge that.” However, over the next three weeks or so, we hope to implement some structures into the team to give the players the clarity they need ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Notably, Gujarat Titans, an Indian Premier League (IPL) team, have Gary Kirsten as their coach and mentor.

Kirsten will be leading the team in the following year’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan, ACC T20 Asia Cup 2025, and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka in addition to the forthcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 and other bilateral white-ball series.