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[Saba Sports News] Recently, Azam Khan, a promising cricketer from Pakistan, attracted attention for controversial reasons. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) imposed a hefty fine, deducting 50% of his match fee, for breaching clothing and equipment rules during a National T20 Cup game in Karachi.
In this match, featuring Karachi Whites against Lahore Blues at the National Stadium, Azam showcased a Palestine flag on his bat, a move that did not escape the notice of cricket officials. Azam claimed it was a trivial matter, as all his bats carried the same decal.
A PCB insider revealed to Geo News that Azam, previously cautioned by the umpire against using the unauthorized logo (Palestine’s flag), now faced a substantial penalty for contravening the International Cricket Council (ICC) code of conduct. Interestingly, this was not Azam’s first instance of using this contentious sticker; he had reportedly used it in two earlier games without warnings. The event has drawn significant attention, particularly in light of another Pakistani player, Mohammad Rizwan, dedicating his team’s triumph in the recent ICC ODI World Cup to Gaza’s residents amid the Israel-Palestine conflict.
The ICC’s regulations clearly prohibit players from exhibiting political, religious, or racial messages. This incident has sparked diverse reactions on social media, with opinions divided between support for Azam’s action and calls for keeping cricket and politics separate.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan cricket team is preparing for a three-match Test series against Australia, with a training camp set up in Rawalpindi. The series will commence with a four-day practice match against the Prime Minister’s XI on December 6 at the Manuka Oval in Canberra, followed by the first Test starting on December 16 at the Perth Stadium.