The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken a stern stance against batsman Azam Khan, imposing a significant fine for violating the International Cricket Council (ICC) clothing and equipment regulations. The incident occurred on Sunday (November 26) during the National T20 clash between Karachi Whites and Lahore Blues.
Azam Khan, a right-handed batsman, opted to express his support for Palestine, a war-torn country, by displaying the Palestinian flag on his bat. However, this well-intentioned gesture ran afoul of ICC rules and regulations, which explicitly prohibit players from featuring any political or religious statements on their clothing or equipment.
The regulations state, “Players and team officials shall not be permitted to wear, display or otherwise convey messages through armbands or other items affixed to clothing or equipment.”
In response to Azam Khan’s breach of the rules, the PCB levied a substantial 50 per cent fine on his match fee. The 25-year-old, known for his powerful batting, now faces financial repercussions for his act of solidarity. Furthermore, there is the looming threat of a potential ban if he repeats such actions in the future.
According to a report by Geo News, Azam Khan had showcased the Palestinian flag on his bat in the preceding two matches of the same tournament. Surprisingly, he had not received any warnings during these instances. This incident draws parallels with the controversy surrounding MS Dhoni during the 2019 World Cup when the ICC instructed him not to display an Army Insignia on his wicketkeeping gloves.
In the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, cricketer Azam Khan has been fined 50% of the match fee for using the Palestine flag on his bat. And warning of suspension if he does so again 💔 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/ppOotQ16KP
— • (@Al__Quraan) November 26, 2023
Azam Khan joins a list of cricketers who have used their platform to express solidarity with political causes. During the recent World Cup, Mohammad Rizwan, another Pakistani cricketer, had dedicated his match-winning century against Sri Lanka to the victims of war in Gaza.
In a similar vein, back in 2014, England’s Moeen Ali found himself in hot water for wearing a wristband with the message ‘Save Gaza.’ The ICC reprimanded him, leading to a subsequent ban on sporting the wristband.
