LAHORE: Pakistan’s disastrous T20 World Cup defeat in the United States has predictably sparked a backlash against its players, who have been criticised for taking their families with them, while the country’s embattled cricket board is considering invoking new defamation laws to tackle “unfounded allegations and reports”.
According to local media reports, in addition to the approximately 34 players, support staff and officials from the national team currently in the United States, about 26 to 28 family members of the players were packed into the team hotel.
These included wives, children, parents and in some cases siblings. Pakistan was eliminated in its group stage matches in New York after losing to India and debutants the United States.
According to reports, players like Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman and Muhammad Amir had travelled with their families.
Babar, who is unmarried, had his father, mother and siblings staying at the team hotel.
“Of course the additional costs of having a family are borne by the player, but having a family reduces the player’s concentration,” said another report.
“Around 60 team rooms had been booked to accommodate others traveling with the team. Take-out dinners and outings were the norm for some players, creating a family atmosphere,” one report said.
Former Test wicketkeeper Atiq-uz-Zaman said he understood the need for players to take their families along on low-profile or bilateral tours.
But for a major event like the World Cup, the PCB should not have allowed such gatherings.
“Family members should not have been allowed at the World Cup as players need to focus on cricket. If family members accompany the players, it will divert their attention and time from cricket,” Zaman said.
Amir brought a personal trainer to the World Cup at his own expense, even though the team already had a foreign trainer, strength coach, physiotherapist and doctor.
According to a report, the left-arm pacer was training separately from other players during the training session with the board’s permission.
PCB considers legal action over unverified reports
The Pakistan Cricket Board plans to use new defamation laws enacted by the Punjab government to go after digital and mainstream media outlets that make highly personal statements about Pakistani players or imply wrongdoing during the World Cup.
A reliable source in the PCB said the commission’s legal wing has already started working on a possible notice under the new defamation law.
“These people will be asked to prove their allegations or face punishment under the new defamation law,” he said.
The Punjab Assembly recently passed a bill relating to digital media and defamation law, under which digital journalists and media professionals who make baseless allegations or personal attacks against public figures and risk causing a public backlash could face heavy fines and imprisonment if found guilty.
The law also stipulates that a ruling must be made within six months and that cases must not be protracted.
This comes after Captain Babar Azam was accused of accepting an expensive car as a gift from a YouTuber.
Published June 21, 2024 12:44 IST
