Cricket Australia swiftly addressed a concerning incident during the tour match between Pakistan and the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra, where a racist slur appeared on the live score ticker. The match was part of Pakistan’s tour, featuring three Test matches for the 2023-25 World Test Championship and the Benaud-Qadir Trophy.
In the tour match, Pakistani skipper Shan Masood chose to bat after winning the toss, and Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq opened the innings. The live broadcast displayed “PMXI” for the home team and “PAK” with an additional “I” for the visitors, inadvertently using a term offensive to people of Pakistani and Indian origin.
Australian cricket journalist Danny Saeed highlighted the issue, prompting Cricket Australia to promptly correct the display to “PAK.” The cricket board acknowledged the error in a statement, explaining that the graphic was automatically generated by a data provider unfamiliar with Pakistan matches. They expressed regret for the oversight and rectified it immediately.
On the first day of the match, Pakistan concluded at 324-6, with Shan Masood leading the charge with an unbeaten 156. Jordan Buckingham stood out as the top bowler for the home team, securing figures of 3-63.
PCB Aims To Enhance Women’s Cricket In KP
Meanwhile, in a significant development, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Tuesday that it has entered into an agreement with Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women’s University in Peshawar, marking a pivotal step in the promotion of women’s cricket.
Under the guidance of PCB Management Committee Chairman Zaka Ashraf, the board has taken proactive measures to nurture female cricketers in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) region, with the overarching goal of identifying talent and fostering the growth of cricket in the area.
This strategic move is part of a broader initiative to expand the footprint of cricket throughout the province, providing increased opportunities for women in KP to actively participate in the sport. Zaka Ashraf expressed his commitment to developing women cricketers in KP, emphasizing the need to spread the influence of cricket across the province to empower women through the sport.
