Babar Azam missed the series against New Zealand due to a fractured thumb and Pakistan lost both the Twenty20 International as well as the Tests.
In a massive relief for Babar Azam, the Pakistan cricket team captain has now been cleared of all allegations of sexual harassment as the woman who had complained has withdrawn the allegations. In a tweet put out by Pakistan journalist Saj Sadiq, the woman apparently said that all allegations that were leveled against Babar Azam were false and she is withdrawing the case. This comes as a big boost for Babar Azam as he had faced a couple of tough months after the woman made an explosive revelation in November 2020. In that period, when Babar Azam was in New Zealand, he could not play a single match as his thumb was fractured when Pakistan was playing an intra-squad warm-up game in Queenstown.
Babar Azam was facing a very tough situation regarding a sexual harassment complaint. According to several reports in the Pakistan media, an additional session court in Lahore ordered the police to file a case against the Pakistan cricket team captain over a sexual harassment complaint in November 2020. In a report on PTI, the woman submitted her medical documents to the court. The additional sessions court judge heard the arguments from both sides and has directed the SHO of Naseerabad police station to file an FIR against Babar Azam. The Lahore additional sessions court found the allegations 'disturbing' and wanted a thorough investigation. This comes on the back of reports which said that another sessions court judge ordered Babar Azam and his family to not harass the woman.
The whole case was centered around some startling revelations made by a woman in November 2020. In a press conference, she accused Babar Azam of sexually exploiting her for 10 years and gave false promise of marriage. The woman revealed that they were school friends and said that she always backed Babar and helped him financially too in his tough times. According to her, Babar had proposed to her for marriage in 2010 and eloped for a court wedding the next year. But Babar, after rising to fame in 2012 - leading Pakistan in U-19 World Cup and getting a national call-up, changed his mind. She said that Babar had threatened to kill her when she went to the police, accusing him of physically assaulting her. The woman also claimed that she paid for Babar's expenses.
The woman, whose name was later revealed to be Hamiza Mukhtar, had made serious allegations against Babar Azam. However, the legal counsel of Babar Azam said Hamiza Mukhtar was blackmailing and demanding Pakistan rupees 45 Lakhs for withdrawing her case when she leveled the charges. Babar Azam's legal counsel alleged that Hamiza tried to delay and prolong the trial through which she could blackmail and harass Babar Azam. Babar Azam's legal counsel said that all her allegations were baseless and won't pay a penny as he added saying that the girl first demanded Rs 10 million and then reduced the amount to Rs 2 million to drop her case.
Pakistan gearing up for South Africa
Pakistan will be looking to put their horror tour of New Zealand behind as they gear up to face South Africa at home in January. The Proteas will be touring Pakistan for the first time in 14 years and they will be playing 2 Tests and 3 T20Is from January 26 to February 14. In the previous series in 2007, South Africa won the Tests 1-0 and it was the last series for Inzamam-ul-Haq as he missed the record for most runs scored by a Pakistan player in Tests, which was held by Javed Miandad at that time with 8832 runs. Currently, Younis Khan is the leading run-getter in Tests for Pakistan with over 10,000 runs.
Pakistan and South Africa are all but out of the reckoning for the final of the ICC World Test Championship final but the two Tests will be monumental as Pakistan welcome all teams to tour the country.
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