Sports

Moin Khan called back from Australia: PCB chairman

Moin Khan was spotted in a casino by a Pakistani couple ahead of the Pakistan-West Indies World Cup match

Web Desk February 24, 2015

PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan says that there is no further need for Khan to remain in New Zealand. PHOTO: AFP

BRISBANE: Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shahryar Khan announced on Tuesday chief selector Moin Khan had been called back from Australia following his visit to a casino in Brisbane.

“We have decided to call Moin Khan back,” Shahryar said, while speaking to the media.

“Moin is being recalled immediately so he can explain his position himself and by that time we will have a proper investigation report.”

The PCB chairman added, “I spoke to Moin and he said he went to the casino and regrets the visit but he was there with his wife and a friend’s wife.”

Further, he added Naveed Cheema will replace Moin Khan as the chief selector for the time being.

Earlier, Moin apologised for visiting a casino in Brisbane during his stay with the cricket team for the World Cup.

As per the report probing the presence of Moin at the casino, the chief selector regrets his actions. The report was presented by Pakistan Cricket Board's team manager Naveed Akram Cheema to PCB chairman Shahryar Khan.

Cheema told the PCB chairman that Moin admitted he went to the casino but only to have dinner.

"Moin Khan is not staying with the team and it is difficult for us to monitor his moves so for now we have to believe what he says," Cheema was quoted as telling Shahryar Khan.

PCB Chairperson Shaharyar Khan had confirmed that the board had initiated an inquiry against Khan’s presence in the casino and also sought an explanation on the matter.

Read: PCB seeks clarification from Moin Khan over casino visit

Khan was spotted in the casino by a Pakistani couple ahead of the Pakistan-West Indies World Cup match in Christchurh, New Zealand.

Read: West Indies bounce back with 150-run rout of Pakistan

Khan was reportedly not seen during the team's last practice session.

The PCB chief said that there was no further need for Khan to remain in New Zealand and that he should come back to Pakistan.

Read: Fixed? Pakistan to crash out of World Cup 2015 in the quarter-finals

Sources have also said that the national team are not happy with the chief selector's behaviour.

Many cricket fans took to social media to express their dissatisfaction with the Khan's appearance at the casino.

#DisbandPCB Breaking: Pictures of Moin Khan inside Casino of Christ Church get leaked! This is our PCB #GeoScamBusted pic.twitter.com/WoboonZD4f
— Dr Farhan K Virk (@FarhanKVirk) February 24, 2015

Bingo. Moin Khan's number must be up.
— Fasi Zaka (@fasi_zaka) February 23, 2015

Can't blame Moin Khan for wanting to win just one game, even one of chance, in NZ and Australia.
— Fasi Zaka (@fasi_zaka) February 23, 2015

At least in the casino #MoinKhan lost fair & square what he won by cheating his country.
— عایشہ (@AmzuD) February 24, 2015

Moin khan goes to a Christchurch Casino for a "meal" right before Windies match? What was on the menu? spot fixing samosas. #WIvZIM #CWC15
— Salman Ahmad (@sufisal) February 24, 2015

COMMENTS (42)

Last Word | 9 years ago | Reply PCB is such a spoil-sport calling Moin Khan back who had accompanied the team to have some fun along with his family.

Shah | 9 years ago | Reply This is not a first time when our players or management goes to such places, I just worry about the way we lose matches bcause cricket is getting better & difficult as the time progresses.. Please ignore such practices and top management should take the opportunity to establish advance training camps in all big cities under the supervision of seniors to train the children about batting, bowling & fielding so we can beat all the teams in future....thanks

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F Khan | 9 years ago | Reply Wrong to call him back at this time.The team will now be further demotivated and disturbed.

Zack | 9 years ago | Reply He should be tried in Shahriah Court simple as that.

khurram | 9 years ago | Reply Going to a casino isn't a big deal. Believe me they are very enticing, specially when you are there with your partner. We All Would've done it.

Ali | 9 years ago | Reply How on earth going to a casino can be termed for sure that he was booking for his team?? If he is gambling with his own money its his personal matter. How can it be said that he was fixing.

Ardi | 9 years ago | Reply What is wrong if he went to casino?? I see a lot of negative comments, people in Pak really need make them self moderate and positive.

Indian Muslim | 9 years ago | Reply I agree with one blogger that the whole of Pakistan is slowly but surely losing its perspective on what is right and what is wrong. The rot has well and truly set in. The worst part is none of the leaders or would-be leaders have the capacity to stop this rut. IK promised much but he is a vindictive politician with an ego the size of Asia. Such people never make good leaders.

Pindi Kid | 9 years ago | Reply We are a crazy nation and our main problem is we see everything from the religious lens. So what if he went to a casino on his personal time with wife and friend? Is he supposed to be with the team at all times when he is not the coach or manager? If he is not supposed to be with the team all the time then can he go anywhere in that country on his personal time as long as it is legal? I would say yes. We are just sulking at the defeats so far and want to blame just about anybody and anything. As far as religious behavior, that is a personal thing and none of us have a right to dictate if the other can visit a casino which is legal in NZ. Get over your religious biases!

ISROFan | 9 years ago | Reply It is not just PCB. It is the whole of your country. Slowly rotting.

Sun Tzu | 9 years ago | Reply Just a few rounds of the slot machines and he's asked to come back? C'mon he was an adult and was just relaxing harmlessly - that too at just 10pm!! This is too harsh - like the Saudi. Cricket is a modern game, WCC is being played in a modern countries - why this 'burkha-attitude'?

Wizarat | 9 years ago | Reply The buck stops at the top. It is now up to Nawaz Sharif to take action and get rid of ALL his cronies and relatives from Cricket. It is a shame.Get rid of the stinkers, Find someone who would serve Pakistan, These are self servers and are not concerned about Pakistan.

OhNo! | 9 years ago | Reply @Karachi Wally: Yoy Know & We Know; He picked to be the FALL GUY for his boses.

Karachi Wally | 9 years ago | Reply Strange logic, Moin went to Casino and Pakistan lost its match. PCB is at fault in sending him to a joy trip when he was not needed there. Now bringing him back midway is another bad decision.

MJ | 9 years ago | Reply I want to know the names of the officials in PCB who signed off on letting Moin switch his job title so he could travel with the team as an official on our tax-payer's dime. However if he was there on his own expense then he can do whatever he wants to do with his time. If him and his wife were seen gambling like high rollers in the casino, it is their private business. PCB is just trying to find a scapegoat here.

Asif | 9 years ago | Reply This is the problem with the whole nation. Judging other people's behaviour. If the couple who spotted and complained about Moin Khan being at the casino thought that it was a wrong place to be in, what was the couple doing at the casino in the first place?

Mirza | 9 years ago | Reply Because of one official our eleven lost two games miserably. Moin went to a casino with his wife and friend(s) that caused the major loses to the team. How about if he would have stayed and played on the Net or watched dirty movies would that be fine? What has his private evening with family to do with the lack of performance of the eleven? We always leave the main issue behind and look for scapegoats. The discipline, fitness, curfew and performance is for the eleven not for the officials. Officials of all other countries go out and have fun and even get drunk but not the eleven who has to get up early after full night rest and play. Let us spare the eleven for not playing and divert attention toward one man. If only Moin stayed Pakistani team would have won all previous and future games! They are always innocent and there is always a reason and a conspiracy against the players.

hasan | 9 years ago | Reply Moin Khan send home for being seen in a casino (could have just been eating there but hey, no one in Pak knows anything about casinos and their restaurants so who cares). Great! So from now on, we will also send home anyone who is caught watching adult websites, smoking cigarettes or a drinking beer can. Cool. Later on, the standards shall be set even higher as we will start sending players / management back for talking to female fans, watching TV, missing prayers & of course for encouraging their wives to drive rental cars. Mashallah! This is a great direction that we have taken as a nation unmatchable anywhere else in the world. Little by little, we are moving towards ultimate state of eternal utopia.

reality | 9 years ago | Reply @tariq0134: Shoaib Akhtar might have given negative comments because this whole thing (world cup cricket) is a farce and a joke. Everything is decided ;). I hope you know what I mean. Shoaib is angry because he was one of the small minority of players that never took any money along with Abdur Razzaq. If these two get angry at the plight of Pakistani cricket , they are justified. They are probably the only two honest men in this God-forsaken team. Full support for ghairat-mand Shoaib Akhtar. He can say whatever he wants.

In the name of love (what more) | 9 years ago | Reply While performances of the team have been dropping, it is unnecessarily harsh to criticize Moin. It is the team that has to be well rested before the match day, not Moin. These unwanted curfews are not going to help. And it is not as if Moin was caught drinking all night and then caught in a brawl. And just coz team has lost 2 important games, does not mean the selector has to confine himself to his room for entire day and night.

Tariq0134 | 9 years ago | Reply Moeen Khan reported to be seen in a casino. I agree that such activities from a responsible Pakistani really bring bad name to our country during an official tour, but I really felt sorry when last night ARY News high lighted this incidence as breaking News and kept on repeating for more than half an hour. Not only this but the News reader was very proud on breaking this news before any one else. I was feeling very ashamed watching the news. Similarly, a few days back Shoib Akhtar gave very negative comments on our players in a talk show on an Indian TV Channel. Why our media and our people like SA are negatively portraying our country and teams. If Moeen did some thing wrong let the authorities deal with it why our media is exploiting it so much

Imran | 9 years ago | Reply What has going to casino got to do with team's poor performance? As if Pakistan had won if he didn't. Our priorities are so misplaced.

a&a | 9 years ago | Reply @Imran Ahsan Mirza: So you are suggesting that he had other motives

world cup is fixed | 9 years ago | Reply money talks people. This is not a sport anymore but one big show. The country with the highest number of viewers will win. simple economics ;)

Maria Yaseen | 9 years ago | Reply Moin khan's presencr just one day before the match. Pathetic! We blame the team for poor performance but the blame goes to the top management of PCB from Chief selector to the Board managers. A man whose presence is illicit with the team, now we can imagine that what could be the reason behind forming up of such weak team squad.

US CENTCOM | 9 years ago | Reply Given all the commotion this incident is creating, it is probably a good decision to bring him back and allow the team to focus on the next match. Ali Khan Digital Engagement Team, USCENTCOM

Raza | 9 years ago | Reply "Naveed Cheema will replace Moin Khan as the chief selector for the time being." What kind of a weird decision is this. My dear brothers and sisters, pay attention to this line, this will become one big issue later on. What are Naveed Cheema's credentials as a cricketer that he was promoted to being a Chief Selector. Plus is it not according to the constitution of PCB that an individual can not keep two positions at a time. Then why is he given this responsibility. This means next time there is a controversy PCB will halt the application of constitution until further notice? What kind of a constitution is this? What is going on inside the PCB? Genral Sahab please pay attention!!!

Khwajaf@hotmail.com | 9 years ago | Reply Why are we hounding moin ? Or are we saying that world cup is rigged ? Get a life people. We have bad guidance and no infrastructure.

Imran Ahsan Mirza | 9 years ago | Reply Why are we discussing a totally non issues? Casino is not just a gambling place but there are typically other services, restaurants, hoteling etc available. I know Pakistani Federal Ministers visit red light districts when travelling to Western countries and spend nights with prostitutes while Moin, who has been to so many countries, is far more trustable person to represent Pakistan. Let us discuss cricket and motivate our team for the remaining games instead of poisoning their morale by such talk generating rumours and hearsay. Imran, Sydney

Assad | 9 years ago | Reply The manager of the squad in his initial report sent to the Board has at least saved his own skin . He has observed that Moeen Khan was not part of the squad and management was not answerable of his conduct . The question is that in which capacity Moeen Khan was there! Who had financed his trip . Mr. Najam sethi , who avails prime time of Geo in clarifying his position ad nauseam need to answer as who sent Moeen to Christ church . He has claimed that he was just on the management committee . What was the role of the committee. Let him hold a one hour live programme for his explanation.

Yasser | 9 years ago | Reply it's the team who have to play cricket, not the chief selector, manager or Coach that they should be free to do what is allowed. i see it's a strategy to diverge the attention from mishaps of poor misbah captaincy.

SKN | 9 years ago | Reply Najam Sethi, what a shameless person you are!

Aziz | 9 years ago | Reply I fully endorse Moin Khan's statement. He must have gone to the casino for a meal as it is the only outfit that serves "halal food". Moin Khan is an upright and principled individual.

Faraz | 9 years ago | Reply Was this his first dinner?

Ahemad | 9 years ago | Reply Interesting lets see what is PCB deciding now? Before they were not sure he went there.

Anoni | 9 years ago | Reply @Awais Rana: Not the majority .. just because one is like that doesn't mean the rest are like that..As far as i know none that i know gambles.

Awais Rana | 9 years ago | Reply Not defending Moin Khan at all. going to the Casino is his personal thingy. majority of the pakistani gamble on games.. I agree with one of the above comments that Moin Khan is just an excuse to divert the attention. Moin khan has nothing to do with the fielders drop 6 catches in a game. or Younis Khan not in form. BUT Moin khan leaving on post at the condition that he should be alot to go to australia with the team is a question mark on PCB!!

Malik | 9 years ago | Reply Best Tweet so far by salman ahmad @sufisal Moin khan goes to a Christchurch Casino for a "meal" right before Windies match? What was on the menu? spot fixing samosas. #WIvZIM #CWC15 8:58 AM - 24 Feb 2015

Ak | 9 years ago | Reply What a drama by the media Fire all of PCB and appoint someone who has merit

effy | 9 years ago | Reply PCB Pakistan corruption board.

Parvez | 9 years ago | Reply Our cricket is a true reflection of the way our country is being managed today.......Moin Khan is just a sorry excuse to divert attention from the real sickness.

Blithe | 9 years ago | Reply Cricket has gone downhill ever since Moin's interjection into everything - selector , manager , semi-coach . He should stick to being a spokesman fir Indian league cricket and spare pcb.

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