Petition in IHC questions Pakistan cricket team’s ‘defeat and disgrace’ in World Cup

Petition states the national team is 'tainted with politicking and grouping'

ISLAMABAD: A petition against the abysmal performance and team selection of the Pakistan cricket team has been filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Saturday.

The petition, filed by Advocate Bilal Farooq, states the national cricket board is answerable to the nation viz-a-viz the courts and "owing to its present-day precarious operations is causing shame, disrepute and dishonour to the citizens of Pakistan".

The writ petition adds that winning and losing is a part of the game but "in the backdrop of recent failures of the Pakistan cricket team and the gradual downfall of the standard of cricket in the country and lastly the manifest politicking and nepotism", the respondents should be held answerable for the performance.

The respondents of the petition are the prime minister, Ministry for Inter-Provincial Coordination, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the selection committee of the PCB.

The petition demands the formulation of a fact-finding commission over reports of groups being formed in the current World Cup squad and an inquiry against those responsible.

It also said that the court should look into the team selection procedure.

The petition further prayed upon the court to summon Shoaib Akhtar, Rashid Latif and Muhammad Waseem for the assistance of the court.

Referring to the premier, the petition said certain players were called good for nothing by the prime minister "which implied that the best squad was not selected".

Arguing that the national team is "tainted with politicking and grouping", and that such practices have been rampant for years, the people involved are still part of the team and "enjoying privileges".

"One player namely Shoaib Malik has previously been found guilty of this. It is for the respondents to answer as to why and how a player of such credentials and such mediocre cricketing skills is still part of the team," the petition states.

Read petition here: