Middle-order batter Azam Khan was fined 50% of his match fees during the National T20 tournament in Karachi for breaching clothing and equipment regulations.
His offense was displaying an unapproved logo, specifically the Palestinian flag, on his bat during the game between Karachi Whites and Lahore Blues.
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Azam khan, known for his flamboyant style, represented Karachi and scored 35 runs against Lahore before being called in by match referee Mohammad Javed.
Confirming the incident, a source mentioned that Azam was fined after displaying the flag despite prior warnings against such breaches of ICC conduct, which the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) adheres to.
Azam reportedly defended himself, stating that all his bats had identical stickers. However, ICC regulations prohibit displaying political, religious, or racial messages on equipment.
A PCB official confirmed the violation of clothing and equipment regulations by Azam. It was noted that he had displayed the same sticker in two previous games without warning.
In a related incident last month, cricketer Mohammad Rizwan dedicated a match-winning performance to Gaza, drawing attention to the Palestinians’ plight. The PCB asked Rizwan to remove his social media post on the matter.
When approached for comment, a PCB spokesperson deferred to the International Cricket Council and PCB’s legal department for further clarification.