Pakistan captain Babar Azam has taken a tough stance against endorsing betting companies. He has refused to wear and endorse the logo of betting firms in the upcoming Lanka Premier League (LPL 2023). With betting considered anti-Islamic, Azam has inserted a “no betting ad” clause in his contract with Colombo Strikers. Earlier, his Pakistan teammate Mohammad Rizwan refused to endorse betting brands.
As per reports, he has informed the franchise and the league that he would not be involved in any promotion of betting brands. However, many betting companies sponsor Pakistan Super League teams.
“Most of the Pakistani players are telling franchise owners and league organizers they don’t want to be associated with wearing logos and endorsing them. If they belong to any betting company including through surrogate advertising,” PTI quoted a source as saying.
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However, even though some Pakistani players have taken a stance on surrogate advertising, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and some of its PSL franchises are sponsored by betting companies. The players wear the logos of such firms on their jerseys.
One of the PCB’s main sponsors in the PSL and during a recent home series has been a betting website. With betting being illegal in Pakistan, they used surrogate advertising to promote its platform.
But Babar Azam straightaway refused to even entertain the idea. He had said “a flat no” to Colombo Strikers franchise. For the first time, Babar signed an agreement to play in LPL 2023.
The Pakistan superstar will lead Colombo Strikers in the LPL 2023. The tournament starts on July 30 with the final on August 22. Apart from Babar, Naseem Shah, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Nawaz and Iftikhar Ahmed are part of the Colombo Strikers squad.
Before that, Babar will lead Pakistan in a two-match Test series against Sri Lanka.
Colombo Strikers Squad LPL 2023: Babar Azam, Matheesha Pathirana, Naseem Shah, Chamika Karunarathne, Pathum Nissanka, Niroshan Dickwella, Wahab Riaz, Lakshan Sandakan, Nipun Dhananjaya, Movin Subasingha, Lahiru Udara, Eshan Malinga, Shashika Dulshan, Nuwanidu Fernando, Iftikhar Ahmed, Lorcan Tucker, Jeffrey Vandersay, Angelo Perera, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Kavishka Anjula, Ramesh Mendis, Mohammad Nawaz, Ahan Wickramasinghe, Yashodha Lanka
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