English County Cricket Pakistan Test skipper Shan Masood refuses to endorse a gambling company
The Test captain of Pakistan, Shan Masood, who leads Yorkshire in English County cricket, has chosen to opt out of promoting an online gambling company. Yorkshire recently signed a two-year partnership deal with Dafabet, an online gambling platform, which includes displaying the company’s logo on the players’ shirts across all cricket formats. However, Masood’s shirt collar will not feature the Dafabet logo due to his personal beliefs.
In some countries, like England and Australia, gambling is legal, and sponsorship deals with betting companies are common. In Pakistan, however, strict regulations prohibit surrogate advertising, which is a method of promoting a brand without directly referencing the prohibited activity. Dafabet had previously sponsored Pakistan cricket under the name “Dafa News,” but was subsequently banned due to the stringent rules.
Masood, who refused to promote the betting company, communicated his stance to the authorities in Yorkshire, who respected his request. His decision aligns with the values of other players, such as Multan Sultans captain Mohammad Rizwan, who covered a gambling-related logo during the Pakistan Super League. The English Cricket Board and county cricket teams are generally accommodating towards religious beliefs and values.