Pakistani Skipper Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan rejected huge offers
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Pakistan cricket team captain Babar Azam and Muhammad Rizwan have made headlines by declining substantial offers from illegal betting entities, despite the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) controversial collaboration with surrogate betting companies.
This collaboration has raised concerns as it appears to breach regulations, with the PCB accepting sponsorship from a surrogate betting sponsor, Dafa News. This move has allegedly opened the door for more than 150 illegal surrogate betting sites and apps to operate within Pakistan's digital landscape.
The repercussions of this collaboration have extended to some Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises, which have reportedly urged players individually to promote these illicit betting companies by endorsing their logos on their shirts and granting image rights.
Babar Azam took a principled stand, rejecting a yearly contract worth Rs250 million, while Muhammad Rizwan also declined a Rs100 million yearly contract from a single surrogate betting company, citing their objection to such sponsorships and contracts that infringe upon the law.
During the previous PSL tournament, Muhammad Rizwan, serving as the captain of Multan Sultans, refused to display the logo of WOLF777 on his kit. The players' refusals are substantiated by documented emails, such as one sent to Babar Azam by the 1XBET betting company, expressing interest in collaboration due to the player's social media presence. In response, Babar Azam's representative, Saya Corporation, emphasized their religious stance against any association with betting or surrogate betting brands.
Muhammad Rizwan received a similar email, further illustrating the players' unwavering stance. Disturbingly, the PCB is accused of granting image rights of Babar Azam and Muhammad Rizwan to these betting companies without their consent.
Furthermore, some PSL franchises have reportedly compelled players to wear the logos of these surrogate betting companies, potentially infringing upon the players' freedom of speech and rights.
A source within one of the betting companies confirmed that despite Babar and Rizwan's clear refusals, the PCB and PSL franchises have granted their image rights to these entities, raising concerns about the nature of the collaboration and its implications.
