Former Pakistan captain Intikhab Alam has entreated the Pakistan Cricket Board to conduct an inquiry into the incident wherein senior players from the national team were spotted at a Shisha cafe in Manchester inside the lead as much as their ICC Cricket World Cup fit in opposition to India.
Media reviews had claimed that senior gamers, inclusive of Shoaib Malik and Wahab Riaz, in conjunction with Imad Wasim and Imam-ul-Haq have been spotted at a restaurant at 2 am on the large in shape day in Manchester.
The senior players faced excessive criticism from fans on social media after Pakistan have been handed their biggest-ever defeat (in terms of the margin of runs) with the aid of India in a World Cup match during the Manchester meeting. Shoaib Malik’s wife and India tennis megastar, Sania Mirza were dragged into the controversy after she was spotted inside the photograph at the side of the Pakistan cricketers in the cafe.
The Pakistan Cricket Board though clarified that the gamers had been to the cafe now not at the eve of India vs Pakistan but multiple days ahead of the massive-ticket suit among the 2 arch-competitors.
Intikhab Alam, who had served as Pakistan cricket team manager in past, stated professional cricketers staying past due at a cafe in the lead up to a massive in shape in “now not justifiable”.
“It is incorrect as the players are on their national duty and there must be a subject to be followed strictly,” Intikhab Alam instructed DAWN.
“Though the PCB has claimed that the occasion took place days earlier than the essential suit against India, even then no person should justify the past due stay of the players in a restaurant as there are positive timings to be observed.
“The gamers could have their dinner at any hotel most employing 11 pm no longer beyond that. The PCB needs to preserve an inquiry to penalize the gamers worried,” the former captain brought.
Responding to critics and media reports, senior batsman Shoaib Mali, who turned into dismissed for naught in the India fit, wrote on Twitter: “When will Pak media be chargeable for their credibility through our courts?! Having served my u. S. For +twenty years in Intl Cricket, it is sad that I should make clear matters associated with my private lifestyles. The videos are from 13th June and now not 15th (sic).”
Meanwhile, Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has been dealing with flak after the one-sided contest that noticed India expand their unbeaten document against their arch-opponents in World Cups to 7-zero.
Slamming Sarfaraz’s techniques, former pacer Shoaib Akhtar stated he became not able to understand the Pakistan captain’s choice-making at some stage in the excessive-strain recreation against India.
“The mistakes committed through the Indian group for the duration of the Champions Trophy 2017 very last have been repeated through Pakistan the day gone by. I can not understand how Sarfaraz can be so brainless. How should he forget that we don’t chase very well? Knowing our strength, which is bowling, is crucial. The sport changed into half of-gained with the aid of Pakistan when Sarfaraz won the toss, however, he attempted difficult to lose them in shape,” Akhtar said.
Sarfaraz, according to Pakistan media, has obtained a call from PCB chairman Ehsan Mani who had requested the skipper now not to attend on “baseless media reports” and alternatively flip their attention in the direction of doing nicely within the remainder of the suits at World Cup 2019. Pakistan is reeling at the ninth spot of the ten-group factors desk with simply 1 win in 5 fits.