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Babar Azam (source: Twitter)
Despite the fact that betting organisations sponsor various franchises in the Pakistan Super League, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam has declined to put on and support the brand of a bookmaker during the forthcoming Lanka Premier League. When signing a contract to play in the LPL this season, Babar reportedly included a stipulation stating that he would not be associated with the promotion process of betting companies.
In the past, veteran player Mohammad Rizwan during the Pakistan Super League had refused to put on a logo of a betting organisation. When Babar Azam agreed to continue playing within the LPL this year, Babar Azam reportedly included a provision stating that he was not going to be associated with the marketing of betting companies.
Ironically, while some Pakistani athletes are protesting surrogate advertising by bookmakers, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and a few of the PSL franchises were sponsored by bookmakers during the league's most recent season, and the athletes wore their brands' logos on their uniforms.
An online bookmaker that used surrogate advertising to market its platform has been one of the PCB's primary advertisers throughout the PSL as well as during a recent home series. The Colombo Strikers franchise, which negotiated an agreement with him to play in the Lanka Premier League, reportedly received "a flat no" from Babar, according to the source.
They don't want to be associated with wearing logos: Source
The source mentioned how some of the Pakistan cricket players have decided to not endorse or be in relation with betting firms. The source said, "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.”
In the LPL, which will take place between July 30 till August 22, Babar will captain the Colombo Strikers. After a two-test series, Babar is anticipated to return to Sri Lanka and take the helm of the Colombo franchise.