Watch what you wear! Pakistanis asked to take off smart watches
A few Pakistan cricketers were spotted wearing smart watches on the field on the first day of the Lord’s Test against England, and have been told to take them off.
Pakistan were better than England most of the way on the opening day of the series. Apart from Alastair Cook (70), none of the English batsmen look good for the long haul even as Mohammad Abbas (4-23) and Hasan Ali (4-51) ran riot to bowl the home side out for 184. In reply, Pakistan ended the day on 50-1, having lost Imam-ul-Haq.
Well as Pakistan played, the incident over the watch became a talking point afterwards even though no charges of wrongdoing were levelled.
As such, wearing watches or even smart watches is not prohibited, but with smart watches capable of doubling up as communication devices, anti-corruption officials at Lord’s were concerned about the ones Asad Shafiq and Babar Azam sported.
“Next time nobody will wear it,” said Hasan Ali, who returned 4-51 on the first day
On Friday, the International Cricket Council announced that smart watches are not permitted on the field and in areas designated as PMOA [Player and Match Officials Area].
“Communications devices are prohibited within the PMOA and no player is allowed to be in possession of or use a communications device which is connected to the internet whilst there,” said the ICC in a statement.
“Smart watches in any way connected to a phone or WI-FI or in any way capable of receiving communications are not allowed and as such we will be reminding players that such devices must be surrendered along with their mobile devices on arrival at the ground on match days.”
The 2010 Lord’s Test between England and Pakistan was mired in controversy
It was at Lord’s back in 2010 that Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt, then the Pakistan captain, were charged with sending down made-to-order no-balls, following which all three cricketers served lengthy bans from the game and even jail terms.
Ali, speaking to reporters after the first day’s play, acknowledged that officials spoke to the Pakistanis. “Earlier I didn’t know but was wearing, but yes, our anti-corruption officer and ICC anti-corruption officer came to us and they told us this is not allowed, so next time nobody will wear it,” he said.
Pakistan will resume proceedings on the second day with Azhar Ali (18*) and Haris Sohail (21*).
