Babar Azam and PCB finally break silence on match-fixing allegations, set to take legal action

Pakistan captain Babar Azam has decided to take strict action against Pakistan journalist Mubasher Lucman for accusing him of match-fixing after Pakistan's poor outing in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. The right-hander decided to file the case against the journalist. 

After the Pakistan National Cricket Team suffered an early exit from the T20 World Cup 2024, captain Babar Azam came under serious scanner. The opening batter got a lot of thrashing from fans as well as the experts for not leading the team well and losing games from winning situations. 

One of the biggest allegations came from the journalist Mubasher Lucman. He posted a video on his YouTube channel and his statement shook the entire cricket fraternity. He claimed that the captain of the team received expensive gifts, including an Audi E-Tron, and apartments in Australia and Dubai, in return for infamous defeats.

The media personnel stated that Babar Azam received a new car and told the world that his brother gifted him. But in actuality, he got the car for losing the game against the USA. He added that Pakistan's captain even got plots in Australia and Dubai for losing the games. 

The statement from the journalist put Pakistan skipper Babar Azam under serious scanner. However, amid all the allegations, the opening batter has decided to file a case against the journalist who accused him in his YouTube video. As per the reports in Dawn News, the skipper has decided to sue the journalist and has already consulted his lawyers. 

Meanwhile, PCB is also ready to take strict legal action against everyone who makes baseless accusations without any proof.

"We are fully aware of these negative comments. Criticism within the bounds of the game is acceptable and there is no objection to it. However, baseless allegations like match-fixing cannot be tolerated under any circumstances," said a PCB source as quoted by Cricket Pakistan.

"PCB has no doubts, so why should we conduct an inquiry? Those who made the allegations should provide proof. We have instructed our legal department to issue notices to such individuals and demand evidence. If not provided, we will seek compensation for defamation. A new law in Punjab ensures that a decision will come within six months," the sources added.

Babar Azam has a captain who failed to get going in the T20 World Cup 2024. As captain, he faced a loss against the United States of America, which was the biggest upset in cricket. After that, he went on to lose against India as well and then couldn't qualify for Super 8. 

This was the third time Pakistan failed to qualify for the Super 8 stage of the tournament. They were dependent on Ireland to beat the United States of America but the washout in the game eliminated them from the tournament as the USA went through.

No confirmation related to Babar Azam's future as captain 

After the debacle in the T20 World Cup 2024, Babar Azam's place in the team has come under serious scanner. There are even calls to sack him as the captain of the team and make someone else a leader. Ahead of the tournament, he was reappointed as the skipper. 

But the move didn't work as Babar Azam failed to win games ahead of the tournament and in the T20 World Cup 2024. There are currently no confirmations about his place in the team as captain. There were reports that PCB would leave the decision to him if he wanted to give away the leadership. 

The reports also claimed that PCB wants Babar Azam to play domestic cricket to identify the talent for the national team. It remains to be seen what be future of Babar as a leader on the side is.