The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly expressing its dissatisfaction with former captain Babar Azam and current national T20 captain Shaheen Shah Afridi’s recent participation in social media sessions with fans on the platform ‘X’. The PCB is concerned about the implications of these engagements and is considering revisiting the clauses in the contracts of centrally contracted players to address their concerns.
According to sources, the decision by Babar and Shaheen to proceed with these social media sessions, arranged by their agent, has not been well-received by the board. The PCB is worried that such public Q&A sessions could lead to unnecessary controversies. Tensions between the board and players regarding social media usage and NOCs for foreign T20 leagues have been escalating since last year.
The recent turnover in PCB leadership, with the appointment of Mohsin Naqvi as the fourth chairman since December 2022, has added to the confusion. This has resulted in a lack of clarity between players, their agents, and the board. Each PCB chairman has had their own approach to running the board, sometimes even disregarding the written clauses of the central contracts and granting special permissions to players in the past year.
Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has requested detailed information about the central contracts with players and transcripts of all player interviews and social media content from recent months. Naqvi is reportedly seeking a revised media policy for players, prompting the PCB to consider revising certain clauses of the central contracts. It seems that a revised media policy for players is a priority for Naqvi and could lead to changes in the contracts.
The PCB’s concerns regarding the social media activities of contracted players reflect the growing influence and impact of these platforms on public perception and image management for athletes. As social media continues to play a significant role in the lives of athletes, it is crucial for sports organizations like the PCB to strike a balance between allowing player engagement with fans while protecting the integrity and reputation of the sport.
In conclusion, the participation of Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi in social media sessions has raised concerns within the PCB, prompting a review of the clauses in the contracts of centrally contracted players. This review reflects the growing importance of social media in the world of sports and the need to establish clear guidelines for players’ online activities.
The source of the article is from the blog reporterosdelsur.com.mx