After being seen visiting a casino in Colombo during the Asia Cup 2023, Umar Farooq Kalson, the media manager for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and Adnan Ali, general manager for international cricket, came under investigation.
Notably, the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Anti-Corruption Unit is likely to take notice of the officials’ activities given that visiting gambling places is expressly forbidden under the Anti-Corruption Code of the international cricket association. After receiving harsh criticism, Kalson and Ali clarified that they had gone to the casino for dinner. The restaurant verified up their claim.
A cricket writer named Omair Alavi questioned the officials’ claim and posed the question, “Who are they trying to fool?”
Who visits a casino for food? Who eats in a gambling place. Who are they attempting to trick? The justification that they went to a casino for dinner is not one that many people are buying. It’s a little difficult to swallow,” Alavi was quoted by The Tribune as saying.
Fans have referred to them as “immature” and “careless,” and they have also been criticized for their professionalism. In the meantime, journalist Shakil Shaikh discussed X and recalled a like occurrence in the past.
PCB media representatives Umer Farooq Kalson and Adnan Ali enjoying themselves at a Colombo casino. after Shaikh posted the footage of PCB officials in the casino on X, he commented, “Cricket fans will recall that Chief Selector/Manager Moin Khan was recalled during the World Cup 2015 and dismissed by PCB Chairman Sheharyar Khan after he was seen in a casino in Christchurch, New Zealand.
PCB media officials Umer Farooq Kalson and Adnan Ali having a good time in a casino in Colombo. Cricket fans will recall that Chief Selector/Manager Moin Khan was recalled during World Cup 2015 and sacked by PCB Chairman Sheharyar Khan when he was seen in a casino in Christchurch… pic.twitter.com/eRoF534xD1
— Shakil Shaikh (@shakilsh58) September 9, 2023
The day before Pakistan’s match against the West Indies in the 2015 Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, Moin Khan, the former captain of Pakistan who also served as manager and top selector, was seen at a casino in Christchurch with his wife.
Shaharyar Khan, the then-PCB chairman, confirmed that Moin Khan’s activities were against the code of conduct, despite Moin Khan’s argument that the visit was only for dinner. Moin Khan claimed that his visit was simply for dinner, but Shaharyar Khan, the then-PCB chairman, verified that his actions violated the code of conduct.