Published: Mar 03, 2015, 07:09 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 03, 2015, 07:09 PM (IST)
Karachi: In a rather abrupt end to a controversy which led to the recall of chief selector Moin Khan from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said it had closed the chapter on the issue.
“Moin Khan met with me and he explained what had happened. He also apologised and admitted he should have been more responsible. We have accepted his apology and the matter is closed,” PCB chairman Shahryar Khan told PTI.
“We have closed the matter because our inquiry also found nothing that was contrary to what Moin had already stated to us,” he said. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: POINTS TABLE
Moin, a former Test captain, had to return home to an angry reception in Karachi last week and was targeted by some media channels for his visit to a Casino in Christchurch the night before the match against the West Indies. Top 10 fielders in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
Pakistan lost that match by 150 runs and this led to a big hue and cry over Moin’s Casino visit with some of his critics alleging he had gone there to gamble. Top 10 wicketkeepers in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
Moin had made it clear he had gone there with some friends to have dinner. Khan said that he had a long talk with Moin who was repentant for his inappropriate behavior at a time when there was pressure on the national team.
“He accepts he made a bad judgment. But he made it clear he only had dinner with friends and returned to the hotel,” Khan added. Top 10 bowlers in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
Khan also made it clear that Moin would remain chief selector but would not returning to Australia and New Zealand for the World Cup. Top 10 batsmen in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
“The rest of the selection committee is already dissolved and we will take a decision on whether to change the chief selector or not after the World Cup,” Khan stated. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: SCHEDULE & MATCH DETAILS
Sources in the board told PTI that Khan had stopped short of removing Moin as chief selector because of his predecessor, Najam Sethi who had defended the former wicketkeeper-batsman. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Pool-wise Team Standings
“Shahryar was not happy with Moin’s behavior but Sethi who commands influence in the board due to his position as Chairman of the executive committee and his close ties with the government pushed for the chapter to be closed,” one source said.
“This is not surprising since Sethi was the one who has supported Moin and given him key positions since last year,” the source added.
Moin on his part said, “The chapter is closed and I have said before I never realized this would snowball into such a big controversy. I just went to the Casino for dinner on the insistence of some friends”.
