New Delhi. Pakistan captain Babar Azam has vowed to stick to his religious values by refusing to sport the logo of a betting company on the Colombo Strikers team jersey in the upcoming season of the Lanka Premier League (LPL). Example is presented. Significantly, in various T20 league tournaments, many ‘betting companies’ make slight changes in their names and become sponsors. However, Babar has taken a tough stand and refused to put his logo on his shirt.
According to the report of cricketpakistan.com, the Pakistani captain has also included this condition in his contract with Colombo Strikers and the franchise was forced to respect his wish.
The Lanka Premier League is to be held from July 30 to August 22 and Babar will play for the Colombo Strikers in this tournament. The Colombo Strikers team, which is going to play its first season in LPL, also includes Pakistan captain Babar Azam, fast bowler Naseem Shah, Sri Lankan Keimthisha Pathirana and Chamika Karunaratne.
Before the Lanka Premier League, the Pakistan team also has to play a two-Test series against Sri Lanka, which is part of the next cycle’s World Test Championship. The Pakistan team will leave on July 9 for this tour of Sri Lanka. The first match of the Test series is to be held from 16 July and the second match from 24 July.
The Pakistan team for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka is as follows.
Babar Azam (Captain), Mohammad Rizwan (Vice-Captain & Wicket-keeper), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafiq, Abrar Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood