Aamer Jamal was fined PKR 1.3 million by the PCB for wearing a political slogan hat during an interview, which violated conduct codes amid scrutiny after poor team performance. His penalty was the largest among several fines issued to other players for similar breaches during recent tours.
Aamer Jamal, the Pakistan all-rounder, has been fined PKR 1.3 million by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) due to several breaches of the code of conduct during the home Test series against England and the subsequent Australian tour in late 2024. This fine is the most significant among those imposed on eight players during this period.
The fine stems from Jamal’s appearance in a press interview while wearing a white floppy hat inscribed with ‘804,’ a political slogan associated with Pakistan’s former Prime Minister and World Cup-winning captain, Imran Khan, who is currently incarcerated on corruption charges. The number ‘804’ specifically denotes Khan’s jail identification number, serving as a symbol of support for him.
Imran Khan, aged 72, has been detained since 2023 and was issued a new 14-year sentence in January 2025. Furthermore, three additional players faced fines of PKR 500,000 each for arriving late at the team hotel during Pakistan’s limited-overs tour of Australia in November 2024.
Additionally, the PCB penalized newly appointed T20I captain Salman Agha, along with Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, and Abbas Afridi, for breaching curfew regulations during their tour to South Africa earlier this year. These strict penalties were introduced in light of increasing public scrutiny following Pakistan’s disappointing exit from the Champions Trophy and their recent performance in T20Is.
Pakistan’s cricket team has been under immense pressure due to their low performance, including a record low T20I score and a significant nine-wicket defeat in their opening match of the New Zealand tour.
In summary, Aamer Jamal’s PKR 1.3 million fine reflects the PCB’s commitment to maintaining professional conduct among players, particularly in politically sensitive contexts. The repercussions faced by Jamal and several other players highlight the PCB’s enforcement of adherence to curfew regulations and codes of conduct as a response to the team’s underwhelming performance and growing public scrutiny. Such actions are indicative of the PCB’s emphasis on discipline within the national cricket team.
Original Source: indianexpress.com
