Pakistan cricket authorities probing Moin Khan's casino visit

KARACHI: Pakistan's chief selector Moin Khan has come under fire for visiting a casino in Christchurch during the ongoing cricket World Cup, prompting the PCB to launch a probe into the matter today.

PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan told reporters in Lahore that the board was investigating the matter.

"We don't want to be judgemental and jump to any conclusions before the probe is complete. But yes we feel it would be inappropriate for Moin to have gone to a casino at a time when the team is struggling and the whole nation is disappointed," Shaharyar said.

The PCB chief didn't rule out the possibility of Moin being recalled to Pakistan if the probe confirmed he had acted inappropriately.

"At this time we are finding out the facts and we have no plans to call him back nor we have taken any such decision," he said.

Shaharyar said he had spoken to the team manager and Moin about the matter and sought an explanation.

Media reports in Pakistan have said that Moin, a former Test captain, had visited a casino on the night of the match against the West Indies in which Pakistan was hammered by 150 runs for their worst ever defeat in World Cup.

The issue has been played up by some channels in view of the team's poor performances.

Ever since the Pakistan team left for its World Cup campaign last month it has constantly run into controversies with reports from New Zealand and Australia suggesting rifts in the team.

But Shaharyar insisted there were not rifts within the team.

"There is nothing of this sort, it is just that the players have not performed well and they themselves are aware of how they have let their supporters down.

"I spoke to them and I told them they can still set things right and they have promised to improve their game.

"We are fully supporting the team and we also appeal to the media and critics to go easy because the players need our full support now. They can still qualify for the knockout stage," he said.