BRISBANE: Last February, Moin Khan made a lightning fast ascent to become one of the most influential men in Pakistan cricket. He was first appointed as Pakistan’s interim coach and later took the dual post of chief selector and team manager. Najam Sethi, the then chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), had great faith in him which meant that important decisions related to the national team were only taken after consulting the former Pakistan captain. But a lot can change in a year’s time – or perhaps a lot can change after a visit to a casino. On Wednesday, Moin was packing his bags in the team hotel here getting ready to catch a flight back home on Thursday. On Friday, he is expected to meet PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan at the Board headquarters in Lahore. Sources close to Moin told ‘The News’ that he will try to convince the PCB chief that his offence was of a minor nature. However, there is a big likelihood that Shaharyar will ask Moin to resign as chief selector in a bid to assuage criticism against national cricket team and the Board itself. There is a slim chance that Moin might retain the post but for him the damage has been done. With Pakistan facing a humiliatingly early exit from the World Cup following big defeats against India and West Indies, millions of cricket fans in the country have been baying for blood. And for them Moin is the chief villain at the moment. The ex-Test wicketkeeper was spotted at a Christchurch casino where eyewitnesses claim he was acting like a high roller. The fact that the incident took place just a day before Pakistan’s stunning 150-loss against West Indies in the quaint New Zealand city set tongues wagging. And Moin is fully aware that he is trapped in a precarious situation. That’s why a day before catching a flight back home, he said sorry for what he termed as an “inappropriate” visit. In a statement issued, he appologised saying that his actions offended millions of Pakistan cricket fans. “I had gone to a casino in Christchurch with friends and family to have dinner. In hindsight, the choice of venue for dinner was indeed inappropriate. It has offended the Pakistan public as well as cricket fans,” he said. “I have already explained my position to the PCB chairman and have apologized to him. He has asked me to return home to further clarify my position in person, which I have readily accepted,” Moin said. “Through this statement, I also apologise to the Pakistan public for my insensitivity in the choice of venue for dinner.” This is the first time that Pakistan have expelled a team official during a World Cup. However, they did send fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar home from the inaugural World Twenty20 championship in South Africa in 2007 after he hit fellow fast bowler Mohammad Asif with a bat.
