Pakistan chief selector Moin Khan has been sent home from the ICC World Cup after admitting that he visited a casino in Christchurch ahead of the team’s second Pool B game against West Indies on Saturday.
“His return will not make a difference to the team’s performance as he was not part of the official World Cup squad,” Pakistan Cricket Board chief Shaharyar Khan said on Tuesday.
“We probed the matter and Moin admitted he went to a casino in Christchurch but said he had gone there with friends to have dinner. We have told him he should return until we further probe the matter.
“Manager Naved Cheema will now chair the tour selection committee with captain Misbah-ul-Haq and head coach Waqar Younis.”
Pakistani fans are already up in arms over the PCB’s functioning following big defeats against arch-rivals India and West Indies, and the situation involving Moin is likely to bring more criticism and may eventually lead to his removal. After a huge hue and cry in Pakistan on the matter, the PCB decided to launch an investigation on Monday and Shaharyar had said: “We have launched an investigation over the reports that Moin Khan visited a casino, action will be taken if the reports prove true.
“As per initial reports, Moin Khan went there to have a meal two days before the match against West Indies and a Pakistani couple photographed him and made a video.
“But we will not make anybody a scapegoat and will investigate this incident before taking any action.”
