Karachi :
In a rather abrupt end to a controversy which led to the recall of chief selector Moin Khan from the World Cup, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Tuesday it had closed the chapter on the issue.
Moin Khan met with me today and he explained what had happened. He also apologised and admitted he should have been more responsible. We have accepted his apology and the matter is closed,” PCB chairman Shahryar Khan told PTI.
We have closed the matter because our inquiry also found nothing that was contrary to what Moin had already stated to us, he said.
Moin, a former Test captain, had to return home to an angry reception in Karachi last week and was targeted by some media channels for his visit to a Casino in Christchurch the night before the match against the West Indies.
Pakistan lost that match by 150 runs and this led to a big hue and cry over Moin’s Casino visit with some of his critics alleging he had gone there to gamble.
Moin had made it clear he had gone there with some friends to have dinner.
Khan said that he had a long talk with Moin who was repentant for his inappropriate behavior at a time when there was pressure on the national team.
He accepts he made a bad judgment. But he made it clear he only had dinner with friends and returned to the hotel, Khan added.
Khan also made it clear that Moin would remain chief selector but would not returning to Australia and New Zealand for the World Cup.
“The rest of the selection committee is already dissolved and we will take a decision on whether to change the chief selector or not after the World Cup, Khan stated.
Sources in the board told PTI that Khan had stopped short of removing Moin as chief selector because of his predecessor, Najam Sethi who had defended the former wicketkeeper-batsman.
Shahryar was not happy with Moin’s behavior but Sethi who commands influence in the board due to his position as Chairman of the executive committee and his close ties with the government pushed for the chapter to be closed, one source said.
This is not surprising since Sethi was the one who has supported Moin and given him key positions since last year, the source added.
