Rashid Latif slams PCB for allowing betting companies to sponsor PSL franchises

JOIN OUR WHATSAPP CHANNEL

Former Pakistan cricketer, Rashid Latif, has slammed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for allowing domestic teams and PSL franchises to sign a betting company as a sponsor.

Karachi Kings have signed 1XBAT as their Titanium sponsor for the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). 1XBAT is a surrogate brand of a betting website, 1xbet, which is illegal in Pakistan, India and other sub-continent countries. 

ALSO READ: I asked Babar to drop me and play Sarfaraz in NZ series: Rizwan

Defending champions, Lahore Qalandars have also signed a partnership with Melbat, which is a sports site operating from melbat.live. However, if you search melbat, the first Google search results show Melbet, which is a betting website. Betting websites use surrogate websites in guise of news to promote betting businesses.

 

🤝https://t.co/FKrakxFVYG pic.twitter.com/oEjWzHYuOg

— Lahore Qalandars (@lahoreqalandars) February 8, 2023

 

A Twitter handle @CricFactCheck posted a thread on surrogate advertising and the PSL franchises associated with companies this season, which participate in this practice.

 

Quetta Gladiators and MCW Sports (MCW Casino). pic.twitter.com/eEiLuvkcm5

— Pakistan Cricket FactCheck (@CricFactCheck) February 9, 2023

Multan Sultans and Wolf777News (Wolf777 Casino). pic.twitter.com/QeJ6Y6Vavf

— Pakistan Cricket FactCheck (@CricFactCheck) February 9, 2023

 

Former cricketer took to Twitter, to express his displeasure over the move after the recent ban on Pakistan cricketer, Asif Afridi.

“Asif Afridi banned from all cricket for two years! On one hand, players are banned for corruption but betting companies are encouraged as sponsors to domestic teams/events by cricket authorities,” tweeted Latif.

 

Asif Afridi banned from all cricket for two years! On one hand, players are banned for corruption but betting companies are encouraged as sponsors to domestic teams/events by cricket authorities!

— Rashid Latif | 🇵🇰 (@iRashidLatif68) February 9, 2023

 

Whereas, Chief Commercial Officer of Peshawar Zalmi, Nausherwan Effandi, announced on Twitter that his franchise is not looking to partner with any surrogate betting website.

 

Kindly all those shady LinkedIn accounts of surrograte betting websites and unknown numbers. Just like past few years, Zalmi is not looking for any such partnership. Our fans can find all our news on Zalmi website and social media assets.Stop contacting. Thanks. #HBLPSL8

— Nausherwan Effandi (@nausherwan_eff) February 8, 2023

 

It must be noted, PCB on Tuesday banned Afridi for a period of two years from all cricket after he pleaded guilty as charged for two violations under the PCB’s Anti-Corruption Code for Participants.