Pakistan’s Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 captain, Babar Azam, has taken legal action against journalist Mubasher Lucman, issuing a Rs. 1 billion defamation notice. This follows serious match-fixing allegations made by Lucman on social media.
The right-handed batter filed the defamation case in response to a series of accusations, including claims of match-fixing against Azam and his teammates. Lucman alleged that Azam received expensive gifts such as an Audi E-Tron and luxury apartments in Australia and Dubai, suggesting these were bribes for deliberate underperformance, particularly during the loss to T20 World Cup 2024 debutants, the USA.
Through his legal team, Azam has demanded a public apology from Lucman, warning of further legal action if the apology is not forthcoming.
This legal battle highlights the heightened scrutiny and criticism faced by the Pakistani cricket team and its management following their disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup 2024. The backlash has led to numerous unverified claims targeting players and coaches.
Assistant coach Azhar Mahmood also reacted strongly to the wave of accusations. Mahmood expressed his distress on social media platform X, highlighting the harassment he and his family have faced due to the baseless allegations.
The intense scrutiny and public criticism underscore the challenges faced by the team after their group-stage exit, with players and coaches bearing the brunt of unfounded accusations.