• Cricketer was fined 50% of his match fee on Nov 26.
• Board says Azam violated Article 2.4 of PCB code of conduct.
• Khan is currently playing in the National T20 Cup match.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Tuesday reviewed its decision and waived batter Azam Khan’s 50% match fee fine for displaying the Palestinian flag on his bat, an act that put him in trouble during a National T20 Cup 2023-24.

The board, in a statement, said Karachi Whites wicketkeeper-batter was fined 50% of his match fee for being found guilty of committing a level-I offence during his side’s match against Lahore Blues at National Bank Stadium, Karachi.

The middle-order batter, on November 26, was fined for breaching clothing and equipment regulations (displaying unapproved logo/political messaging) during the National T20 Cup match in Karachi.

Azam displayed Palestine’s flag on his bat during a National T20 Cup match.

Azam was found to have violated Article 2.4 of the PCB code of conduct for players and players’ support personnel for repeated failure to comply with the instruction or directive of an umpire during a match.

Players and team officials are not permitted to wear, display or otherwise convey personal messages on their equipment unless approved in advance by both the player or team official’s cricket association and PCB Cricket Operations Department.

The board’s decision comes after cricket fans expressed their anger over the action taken against the cricketer on social media.

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

However, it is important to clarify here that during the World Cup the cricketers posted statements and pictures on their social media channels in support of Palestine. Back then they were not penalised as the ICC code is meant for on-field activities and off-the-ground actions are beyond their scope.

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.

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:

• Haris Rauf believes he is not in right state of mind for Test cricket.
• Haris Rauf upset with questions on form.
• Pacer wants to focus on limited overs of cricket get ready for Tests.

ISLAMABAD: Following Chief Selector Wahab Raiz’s comments on pacer Haris Rauf’s decision to pull out of the Australia tour, the bowler is “upset over undue criticism” he has been receiving, reported The News on Friday.

The pacer is currently in Karachi for the National T20 Championship but sources close to the fast bowler told the publication that he wanted to be in the best of shape, mentally, physically, and form-wise to restart playing Test cricket.

“Look Haris is upset with those who have unleashed undue criticism on the pacers during the World Cup campaign. Even those who hardly know anything are criticising his form and raising questions about his not picking wickets regularly during World Cup matches.

What a fast bowler requires is to get mentally fit and ready for big-time cricket. Haris believes that he is not in the right state of mind physically and mentally to play Test cricket where you have to stay alert all five days,” a close family source said.

The source shared that Haris was of the view that he should focus on the shorter version of the game to get physically and mentally ready for Tests and other international commitments.

“It is just a matter of months before you see him playing all formats of the game. Currently, he wants to concentrate fully on T20 cricket.”

Earlier this week, Chief selector Wahab Riaz announced an 18-member Pakistan Test squad for the tour to Australia comprising three matches scheduled from December 14, 2023, to January 7, 2024.

Riaz, in his maiden press conference as chief selector, said Haris had assured the cricket board that he would play Test cricket for the national side, but pulled out at the last minute making himself unavailable for the series.

“It is important to inform you about this because people should have clarity about what’s goining on,” Riaz told journalists, highlighting that Rauf had concerns about whether he would have fitness issues if he partook in the tour.

“We have tried facilitating him in every way. Even if he failed in this tour, I was ready to accept it. Our fitness consultant told us that he [Rauf] would not have any issues moving forward.”

“We could have managed the issues […] but he pulled out at the last moment. I believe this will be a set back to Pakistan,” the chief selector explained.