Petitioner, Advocate Saeed Zafar, says Moin brought a bad name to Pakistan by visiting a casino in Australia. PHOTO: AFP
LAHORE: Chief selector of the national team Moin Khan returned to Karachi on Thursday after the Pakistan Cricket Board decided to call him back from Australia over his controversial visit to a casino while on tour.
As a group of youngsters waited at the main exit of the Karachi international airport with banners against him, the former Pakistan captain slipped away in a waiting car.
But the ordeal was not over for him. Security had to be deployed at his house where angry protesters had started to gather.
"We have deployed some police at Moin's residence for security reasons as people were causing disturbances," said senior police official Tariq Dharejo.
Moin, who was accompanying Pakistan for the World Cup in capacity of the touring selection committee head, was seen at a Christchurch casino before Pakistan team’s World Cup match against the West Indies.
The PCB said its chairman would meet Moin on Friday to hear his side of the story.
Read: After casino appearance, PCB recalls Moin Khan
Earlier on Thursday, a local court in Lahore issued a notice to station house officer Islampura for failing to register a First Information Report (FIR) against national chief selector Moin Khan for visiting a casino.
The court sought a reply from the house officer in this regard.
The petitioner, Advocate Saeed Zafar, said Moin has brought a bad name to Pakistan by visiting a casino. “The team lost because of him,” he added.
Zafar further said that instead of taking action against him, Pakistan Cricket Board is defending him.
He requested the court to direct the police to register FIR against Moin soon.
The national chief selector issued an apology statement on February 26.
Read: Moin apologises for casino visit
The 43-year-old was called back on immediate basis to clarify his position in front of the board’s top brass and public.
Moin claimed that he had gone to Christchurch’s casino along with his wife for a dinner hosted by a friend, but his visit right before Pakistan’s match has received severe criticism.
“I had gone to a casino in Christchurch with friends and family to have dinner. On hindsight, the choice of venue for dinner was indeed inappropriate, which has, and rightly so, offended the public in Pakistan as well as cricket fans,” said Moin in his statement.
Before the team had departed for the World Cup, the PCB was criticised by the cricketing fraternity for sending Moin with the team as only the management is allowed to decide selections among them.
“I have already explained my position to the PCB chairman and have apologised to him. He has asked me to return home to further clarify my position in person, which I have readily accepted,” he said.
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