Pakistan Media directed to apologise skipper Sarfraz Ahmed

Pakistan’s Electronic Media regulator (PEMRA), recently ordered a news channel to apologize to Pakistan cricket team skipper Sarfraz Ahmed for their irresponsible comments on the Champions Trophy winning captain. The popular channel Samaa TV is under scrutiny for former Pakistan captain Aamir Sohail’s comments after Pakistan’s win over Sri Lanka.

After a dismal start to the tournament with the loss against their arch-rivals India, not many gave Pakistan a chance to qualify for the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy. But slowly and steadily they gathered momentum into the latter stages of the tournament to clinch their first Champions Trophy title. South Africa, Sri Lanka, England, and India had no answer to pace attack of Pakistan.

After winning against the Proteas, Pakistan faced Sri Lanka in a virtual quarter-final of the tournament. With his team precariously placed after losing six wickets, Sarfraz steered his team out of nowhere to book a place in the semi-finals. Aamir Sohail went on to state that Ahmed wasn’t responsible for the win against Sri Lanka but almighty God was.[We won because of prayers and God; and I cannot name the facilitators of those prayers. You [Sarfraz] have done nothing special, this match was won for you, we all know how things work.

Aamir Sohail’s comments

“We won because of prayers and God, and I cannot name the facilitators of those prayers. You [Sarfraz] have done nothing special, this match was won for you, we all know how things work.” quoted the former Pakistani cricketer Aamir Sohail on air post-Pakistan’s victory over Sri Lanka.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had filed a complaint with PEMRA seeking action. The regulator issued a show-cause notice to Samaa on June 20. During a hearing on Friday, PEMRA found that the language/words used by Sohail against Ahmed violated several clauses of the Electronic Media Code of Conduct 2015.The Samaa management will have to air the apology on June 25 in its prime time news bulletin and also run tickers.