Pakistan cricket captain Babar Azam has taken legal action against journalist Mubasher Luqman, issuing a Rs1 billion defamation notice for making what Azam claims are false accusations against him and his family.
Luqman’s allegations, primarily circulated on social media, accused Azam of involvement in match-fixing activities and accepting lavish gifts in exchange for influencing match outcomes.
The defamation notice, delivered through Azam’s legal representatives, demands an immediate apology from Luqman for spreading baseless claims. It underscores that failure to retract these accusations and issue an apology within a specified timeframe will result in legal proceedings against Luqman.
The controversy ignited when Mubasher Luqman’s allegations gained traction on social media platforms, implicating Babar Azam in match-fixing activities following Pakistan’s unexpected exit from the T20 World Cup 2024. Luqman specifically pointed to incidents involving costly gifts allegedly received by Azam, including an Audi E-Tron and apartments in Australia and Dubai, purportedly obtained through dubious channels.
A video clip of Luqman discussing these allegations further amplified the controversy, stirring public debate and drawing strong reactions from cricket fans and pundits alike. The accusations not only targeted Babar Azam but also scrutinized the performance of former captain Shaheen Shah Afridi during the tournament.
