Babar Azam sues anchorperson Mubashir Luqman over match fixing accusations

ISLAMABAD: National cricket team captain Babar Azam has filed a defamation claim against senior anchorperson Mubashir Luqman for accusing him of match-fixing during the T20 World Cup in the USA.

In a recent video circulated on social media, veteran anchor Mubasher Luqman has leveled serious allegations against Pakistan’s cricket team captain, Babar Azam.

Luqman claimed that Azam received an Audi E-Tron, allegedly presented as a gift from his brother, which was acquired through questionable bookies. However, the journalist added his brother doesn’t do anything, and the car came due to fixing matches and losing deliberately against teams like the United States, the Netherlands, or Ireland.

Additionally, he accused Azam of owning apartments in Australia and New Zealand, acquired under dubious circumstances.

According to media reports, the legal notice, sent by Babar Azam, demands compensation of Rs 1 billion from Luqman regarding these allegations.

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 His legal team argues that the allegations of match-fixing made by the anchor are unfounded and damaging to his reputation.

Captain Babar Azam has challenged Mubashir Luqman to prove the fixing allegations against him; otherwise, he must pay the damages.

Luqman’s accusations came on the heels of Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the USA, where they suffered a premature exit from the tournament. The team lost to the USA and narrowly defeated Ireland in a low-scoring match in New York.

Meanwhile according to reports, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will file a defamation case against journalists and YouTubers accusing Babar Azam of match-fixing. Once the case is filed, those journalists and YouTubers will be asked to prove their allegations, and if they can’t, they might suffer heavy fines and jail.

The Punjab Assembly recently passed a bill related to the defamation law, which states that any media agency or journalist claiming false allegations or attacking any person publicly that induces criticism might have to pay fines and spend some time in jail if they fail to prove their claims. The bill also reads that cases should conclude within six months, avoiding unnecessary delays.