LAHORE - Pakistan’s chief selector Moin Khan got direct ticket from casino to home as he was ordered Tuesday to return to the country immediately to explain his visit to ‘the place of gambling’ around World Cup matches.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) launched a probe on Monday as claims surfaced that Moin had been seen in a casino in the New Zealand city of Christchurch shortly before the team’s 150-run loss against the West Indies in the World Cup. “There are widespread allegations into the conduct of the chief selector having brought the image of Pakistan and the PCB into disrepute,” a PCB spokesman said.
Earlier in a surprise move, Moin, who was removed as team manager before the World Cup, was sent for the mega-event against the board’s practice of not allowing its chief selector to accompany the team on foreign tours. Moin’s presence at the World Cup was widely criticised by a number of former players, who termed him ‘joy-rider’. They called it unnecessary and a waste of money to send him to Australia and New Zealand for the event.
Moin was a member of Pakistan’s only World Cup-winning team when the tournament was last played in Australia and New Zealand 23 years ago. He also captained Pakistan from 1998 to 2001.
PCB chairman Shaharyar M Khan spoke with the chief selector and other members of the team management over the telephone on Tuesday, before calling Moin back. “Moin has been recalled immediately so that he can explain his position himself, and by which time we will also have a full picture,” he said.  Shaharyar said Moin acknowledged he went to the casino with his wife, and had a dinner with their friend. It is worth mentioning here that the friend was a journalist from a private TV channel - which shows it’s not Moin alone and that’s why the journalist unceremoniously failed to report the event or mention the most flashing talking point in his programme.  “When I told Moin there are lots of allegations against him, and even members of the Upper House discussed it in parliament today, he told me that all the accusations are wrong. He was also disappointed to go to the casino, but he told me he went there to have dinner, and didn’t do anything else,” Shaharyar said.
Manager Naveed Akram Cheema will take over as chief selector of the tour selection committee, which also comprises coach Waqar Younis and captain Misbahul Haq, from now onwards. Pakistan has lost its two pool games against India and the West Indies; and next plays Zimbabwe on Sunday.