Top Pakistan cricketers decide against promoting controversial products

Top Pakistani cricketers, including Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, have decided to include a clause in their contracts with various franchise T20 leagues, stating that they will not endorse or promote products or services from certain categories, such as tobacco, alcohol, surrogate batting products, pork items, and adult entertainment. This is in line with their religious, cultural, and personal values.

The players will not allow their images to be used in promotional activities for these products or services, and they will not receive any financial compensation from them. Instead, their remuneration will come from alternative sponsorships, team support, or agreements made by the league owners.

A portion of these players have brought forward these conditions to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and are seeking to integrate them into the central contracts as well. The prevalence of surrogate betting companies' sponsorships has become noticeable in Pakistan. Some of these companies undergo minor name alterations to become sponsors, leading the PCB to reluctantly partner with them due to sponsorship scarcity. However, the PCB has affirmed that once the current contracts with these sponsors expire, they will not be renewed.

Babar had also refused to showcase the logo of a surrogate betting company on his Colombo Strikers jersey during the recent Lanka Premier League (LPL) season. He firmly declined to have the logo featured on his shirt and even incorporated this stipulation into his contract with the Colombo Strikers. Admirably, the franchise respected and upheld his wishes.

It is worth noting that during the Lanka Premier League, instances arose where Pakistani cricketers' images were used by surrogate companies. However, swift legal action led to the removal of these images within a few hours. Looking ahead, potential conflicts could arise during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) due to the involvement of several franchises with surrogate companies. The franchise owners are seeking clarification from the PCB on this matter, although they have not yet had the opportunity to engage with the Chairman of the Management Committee, Zaka Ashraf.