On Tuesday, the PCB reverses the fine imposed on Azam Khan for showcasing a Palestinian flag on his bat.
The fine had triggered criticism on social media, with the PCB receiving backlash for what was perceived as an unjust action against the cricketer.
During the National T20 Cup 2023-24 match between Karachi Whites and Lahore Blues at National Bank Stadium in Karachi, Khan, representing Karachi Whites, was fined 50 percent of his match fee for committing a level-I offense by adorning his bat with a Palestinian flag, violating the rules that prohibit the endorsement of such causes without prior approval.
However, the PCB, in a statement today, announced, “Azam Khan’s 50 percent fine imposed by match officials has been reviewed and waived off by the PCB.”
The cricketer was found to have violated Article 2.4 of the PCB Code of Conduct for Players and Players Support Personnel for repeatedly failing to comply with the instructions or directives of an umpire during the match, according to the board’s statement.
After facing criticism, the PCB reverses the fine imposed on Azam Khan for showcasing a Palestinian flag on his bat.
It emphasized that players and team officials are not allowed to display personal messages on their equipment without prior approval from both the player or team official’s cricket association and the PCB Cricket Operations Department.
Senior journalist Hamid Mir had sought clarification from the PCB on Sunday, questioning when it became a crime to display the flag of Palestine on a cricket bat in Pakistan. He called for the dismissal of those who fined Azam Khan and urged the PCB to set an example.
