The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) initially fined Azam Khan, a player for Karachi Whites, 50% of his match fee for having a Palestine flag on his bat during a domestic match against Lahore Blues. The PCB later reconsidered and decided to cancel the penalty imposed by the match officials.

In a statement, the PCB said, “The 50% fine on Azam Khan, imposed by match officials, has been reviewed and waived off.”

Azam Khan was penalized for violating Article 2.4 of the PCB Code of Conduct for not following the umpire’s instructions during the National T20 Cup 2023-24 match. Players are not allowed to display personal messages on their equipment without approval.

According to the ICC code of conduct, players cannot show messages related to politics, religion, or race. Azam had used the same sticker in previous matches but wasn’t warned before the Sunday game.

The fine caused controversy on social media, with fans criticizing the PCB. Azam Khan, known for his T20 skills, has not played for the national team since 2021 but remains a prominent figure in Pakistani cricket.

During the ODI World Cup, Muhammad Rizwan, another Pakistani wicketkeeper-batsman, supported Palestine on social media without facing any fine, as the ICC considered it his personal opinion.