Pakistan's intensifying crackdown on the promotion of illegal online gambling has escalated significantly, with cricket legend Wasim Akram becoming the latest
Pakistan’s intensifying crackdown on the promotion of illegal online gambling has escalated significantly, with cricket legend Wasim Akram becoming the latest and most famous personality to be implicated. A formal complaint has been filed with the country’s National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in Lahore, accusing the sporting icon of endorsing an unlicensed betting application.
The complaint, filed by a private citizen, alleges that Akram acted as a brand ambassador for a gambling app known as ‘Baji’. The complainant has reportedly submitted video and poster evidence of the promotions to the agency. An NCCIA official has confirmed receipt of the complaint and stated that further steps may be taken if the evidence supports the claims.
This development is a clear extension of the NCCIA’s recent, high-profile enforcement actions. It comes just days after the arrest of prominent YouTuber Saad ur Rehman, popularly known as ‘Ducky Bhai’, on similar charges of promoting illicit gambling platforms.
The targeting of a globally recognised sporting figure like Wasim Akram signals that the agency is prepared to pursue even the most high-profile individuals in its efforts to dismantle the marketing ecosystem that supports the country’s vast black market for gambling.
Gambling is strictly illegal in Pakistan under the country’s Penal Code. Furthermore, the Electronic Crimes Act of 2016 provides the NCCIA with the specific authority to prosecute individuals and companies involved in promoting illegal digital betting.
For Akram, the allegations bring renewed scrutiny to a career that, despite its brilliance, was also touched by controversy. During the 1990s, he faced persistent allegations related to match-fixing, though he was never formally convicted of any wrongdoing. The new complaint, however, once again links his name to the world of betting.
The investigation into one of the country’s most revered celebrities is the clearest signal yet from Pakistani authorities. They are actively and aggressively pursuing not just the illegal operators themselves, but the entire marketing supply chain that gives them a veneer of legitimacy. For any brand, celebrity, or influencer, the legal and severe reputational risks of promoting gambling in unregulated and prohibitive markets like Pakistan are now undeniable.
