The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to completely waive the 50% match fee fine imposed on Azam Khan for displaying the Palestine flag on his bat during the ongoing National T20 Championships. The son of former Pakistan captain Moin Khan had been fined by the PCB match referee two days prior for refusing to remove the Palestine flag sticker from his bat.

This action was deemed a violation of Article 2.4 of the PCB Code of Conduct for Players and Players Support Personnel, specifically for repeated failure to comply with the instruction or directive of an umpire during a match.

While the PCB did not provide a specific reason for waiving the fine, nor did it clarify whether Azam would remove the sticker for the remaining matches of the tournament, a brief release from the board stated, “Azam Khan’s 50% fine imposed by match officials has been reviewed and waived off by the Pakistan Cricket Board.”

The PCB in a statement today said: “Azam Khan’s 50pc fine imposed by match officials has been reviewed and waived off by the PCB.”

Read more: PCB lifts fine on Azam Khan over display of Palestinian flag on bathttps://t.co/CxMmjlVJZt

— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) November 28, 2023

The incident occurred during the National T20 Cup 2023-24 match between Karachi Whites, Azam’s team, and Lahore Blues at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi. The decision to fine Azam led to a social media outcry, with cricket fans and the public criticizing the PCB for the imposed penalty, especially considering that the match was televised live.

See Also:Quetta Gladiators Refute Speculations Regarding Naseem Shah’s Trade to Peshawar Zalmi

According to ICC rules, players and team officials are prohibited from displaying personal messages on their equipment without prior approval from both the player or team official’s cricket association and the PCB Cricket Operations Department.

Azam Khan, recognized for his T20 big-hitting prowess, has not played for the national team since 2021 but remains a prominent figure in Pakistan cricket. This incident brings attention to the broader issue of personal expressions on the field, as witnessed during the recent ODI World Cup when Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batter Muhammad Rizwan tweeted in support of Palestine without facing any ICC fine, as it was deemed a personal opinion.

Karachi Whites’ middle-order batsman, Azam Khan, has been fined 50% of his match fees in the National T20 tournament for violating clothing and equipment regulations. The breach occurred during a game against Lahore Blues in Karachi when Azam displayed Palestine’s flag on his bat. Match referee Mohammad Javed imposed the fine, citing a violation of the ICC Code of Conduct, as displaying unapproved logos is prohibited.

Despite being warned earlier by the referee about the potential breach, Azam, who scored 35 runs in the match, continued to display the unapproved logo in two previous National T20 Cup games without facing consequences until the recent match against Lahore Blues. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is a signatory to the ICC code, and Azam had previously informed the referee that all his bats featured the same stickers.

ICC Regulation on Clothing and Equipment

The International Cricket Council (ICC) regulations strictly prohibit players from displaying messages supporting political, religious, or racial causes on their clothing and equipment. Azam Khan’s act of showcasing Palestine’s flag on his bat directly contravened these regulations, leading to the imposed fine.

See Also:IPL 2024: Shubman Gill Assumes Captaincy for Gujarat Titans Following Hardik Pandya’s Transfer to Mumbai Indians

This incident mirrors a controversy in October, where Pakistan’s cricket team expressed solidarity with Palestine during the ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup. The team’s display of support and prayers for Palestinians led to questions about whether such expressions were allowed in the tournament.

The PCB defended the players, claiming it was a personal decision. However, Azam Khan’s recent fine highlights the strict enforcement of regulations regarding political symbols on cricket equipment.