ICC World Cup 2019: Pakistan Cricket Board Should Punish The Players Spotted At Shisha Cafe: Intikhab Alam

Former Pakistan Cricketer Intikhab Alam has requested the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to take strong action against the players spotted at the Shisha Cafe leading to the derby clash against India on June 16 at Manchester. Pakistan suffered a humiliating defeat at the hand of the arch-rivals which has found the team in all sorts of problems.

Alam calls for penalising Pakistan cricketers

Reports broke out after the marquee clash that few senior Pakistan cricketers namely Shoaib Malik, Wahab Riaz, Imam-ul-Haq, and Imad Wasim were out till 2 A.M on the day of the big match. The news spread like wildfire, and the fans and former cricketers lashed out at them. However, PCB clarified that the players had been to the cafe not on the eve of India vs Pakistan but a couple of days ahead of the big-ticket match between the two arch-rivals.

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Former Pakistan Cricket Team manager Intikhab Alam has called for inquiry about the same. He also said that players staying late at a cafe in the lead up to a big match is not justifiable. Intikhab also emphasised that PCB cannot justify players staying away till midnight in a tournament like the World Cup.

“It is wrong as the players are on their national duty and there must be a discipline to be followed strictly,” Intikhab Alam told DAWN. “The players could have their dinner at any hotel maximum by 11 pm, not beyond that. The PCB should hold an inquiry to penalise the players involved,” the former cricketer added.

Meanwhile, Pakistan hang by the wire as they need to win all their remaining matches to give themselves a chance of making it to the semifinals. They are currently at the ninth spot with three points from five games with only one win. Next up, they face South Africa on June 23 at the Lord’s in London.