PSL: Why Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan wear ‘Pink Caps’ in Multan Sultans vs Peshawar Zalmi match? EXPLAINED
Players from both Multan Sultans and Peshawar Zalmi wore pink caps and the stumps were also colored pink.
Rawalpindi: Players of both Multan Sultans and Peshawar Zalmi will wear pink caps during their match in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) on Tuesday to raise awareness about breast cancer. While the two captains Babar Azam (Peshawar Zalmi) and Mohammad Rizwan (Multan Sultans) were the first to wear pink caps during the toss, the players also wore the same along with pink ribbons. Even the stumps were painted pink. The commentators also wore pink clothing.
“The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will leverage the HBL Pakistan Super League as part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives to promote breast and childhood cancer awareness,” a PCB statement said on Tuesday:
“To kickstart this campaign, the match between Peshawar Zalmi and Multan Sultans on March 5 at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi will be designated as Pink Ribbon Day, with a focus on raising awareness about breast cancer,” it added to it.
PSL has previously experienced a Pink Ribbon Day. In 2020, PSL two matches – Islamabad United vs Peshawar Zalmi and Lahore Qalandars vs Quetta Gladiators – players wore pink caps during the match. Internationally, Pakistan celebrated a Pink Ribbon Day in a T20I in 2019.
Coming together for a good cause 🤝
The captains exchange signed jerseys prior to the game #PZvMS match as we observe Breast Cancer Awareness Day #Pink ribbon 🎀 #HBLPSL9 | #KhulKeKhel pic.twitter.com/S4VvPNWl6i
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 5, 2024
Who plays pink cricket matches other than Pakistan?
In world cricket, Australia has been playing Pink Tests over the years, an initiative started by former pacer Glenn McGrath in association with Cricket Australia. McGrath, one of Australia’s fast bowling greats, founded the McGrath Foundation after his wife Jane was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005.
The funds raised through this Pink Test are used for patients and relatives. The Aussies are the first team in the world to introduce the same in international cricket and it is played once a year. During the Pink Test, players wear pink caps and the entire stadium turns pink, even the stumps.
The first Pink Test was played in 2009 between Australia and South Africa after Jane breathed her last. So far, 16 Pink Tests have been played, with the hosts winning eight, drawing six and losing just one. England is the only team to beat Australia in the Pink Test in 2011.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board will celebrate a Pink Ribbon Day on March 12 during the match between Quetta Gladiators and Multan Sultans to raise awareness about childhood cancer.