There seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel for Pakistan cricket. After the Super Eight stage exit in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) dropped a bombshell by reportedly deciding to impose fines on the players for their below-par show.
Pakistan failed to qualify for the semifinals and lost to arch-rivals India and England while their Super Eight game against New Zealand was washed out. They beat Sri Lanka in their final match but couldn't qualify for the last four.
Selector Aleem Dar’s resignation, reportedly over the inclusion of Babar Azam and Shadab Khan in the squad, soon after the team’s exit, added to the mess.
Now, a report has emerged that a player of the T20 World Cup squad has been fined for allegedly misbehaving with a female hotel staff in Kandy, Sri Lanka. The alleged incident occurred before the match against the hosts, reported Telecom Asia. The female housekeeping staff at the Golden Crown Hotel reportedly raised an alarm when the player behaved inappropriately. Hotel employees intervened immediately and reported the incident to Pakistan team manager Naveed Cheema.
He apologised to the hotel management on behalf of the player and imposed a fine on him for misconduct, effectively settling the matter for then. The player’s identity has not been revealed yet. But, the PCB is expected to conduct an internal inquiry into the issue and the player could face disciplinary action.
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Meanwhile, Babar Azam has been dropped from the 15-man squad for the ODI series against Bangladesh, despite scoring an unbeaten 102 against Sri Lanka in November in the format. The star batter had a disappointing outing at the T20 World Cup, managing only 91 runs across four innings. Left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi will captain the side for the three-match series starting next week in Dhaka.
The development comes at a time when reports suggest that Azam’s former teammate and ex-skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed is likely to be appointed the next head coach. The PCB is reportedly awaiting a final confirmation from the 38-year old.
Last year, the PCB had appointed Ahmed the manager and mentor of the Pakistan Shaheens and under-19 sides. He was also with the team in the ICC World Youth Cup held this year in Zimbabwe and Namibia. Ahmed also managed the Shaheens and juniors in the Asia Cup Rising Stars event and junior Asia Cup.
If chosen, he would be the youngest head coach of the Test team. Ahmed played 54 Tests, 117 ODIs and 61 T20Is for Pakistan, leading them to a under-19 World Cup title and the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy title. He was removed as captain and dropped as player in 2019 after Misbah ul Haq took over as the head coach and chief selector in all formats.