PCB Waives 50% Match Fee Fine Imposed On Azam Khan For Displaying Palestine Flag On Bat

Lahore: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to rescind the 50% match fee fine imposed on Azam Khan for displaying the Palestine flag on his bat during the ongoing National T20 Championships. Khan, son of former Pakistan captain Moin Khan, had initially faced a sanction from the PCB match referee for refusing to remove the Palestine flag sticker from his bat.

The PCB had cited a violation of Article 2.4 of the PCB Code of Conduct, pertaining to repeated failure to comply with umpire instructions. However, despite the initial penalty, the PCB has now chosen to revoke the fine without providing specific reasons or clarifying whether Khan agreed to remove the sticker for subsequent matches.

“Azam Khan’s 50% fine imposed by match officials has been reviewed and waived off by the Pakistan Cricket Board,” stated a brief release from the PCB.

The incident occurred during the National T20 Cup 2023-24 match between Karachi Whites and Lahore Blues at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi. According to ICC rules, players and team officials are prohibited from displaying personal messages on their equipment without prior approval.

The fine had sparked controversy on social media, with cricket enthusiasts and the public criticizing the PCB’s decision. Khan, recognized for his T20 prowess, has not represented the national team since 2021 but remains prominent in Pakistan’s cricket scene and features regularly in global franchise cricket.

The incident echoes a similar situation during the recent ODI World Cup in India when Pakistan’s wicketkeeper-batter Muhammad Rizwan expressed support for the Palestine people in Gaza through a tweet. However, Rizwan did not face any fines from the ICC, which deemed it a personal opinion.