PCB should have trusted me: Moin

E-Paper | June 07, 2026

Former Pakistan captain and chief selector Moin Khan said his reputation had forever been tarnished by the 'Casino Scandal' and blamed the local media for blowing the incident out of proportion and his eventual sacking over the issue.

"There is no doubt this casino scandal has tarnished my reputation and standing as a former captain and player," a dejected Moin said in an interview.

"The incident really hurt my reputation and pride and caused problems for me and my family. But the way the media presented the matter negatively and played it up was very disappointing for me because all my career I had an unblemished record as player and captain," the 43-year-old former wicketkeeper added.

Moin served as Pakistan's manager and chief selector before the World Cup but relinquished one post on the condition that he would be permitted to travel with the team for the big event. The move surprised many and his presence reportedly became a bone of contention for the players and the team management.

Things came to a head when Moin visited a casino in Christchurch, New Zealand, before Pakistan's crucial match against the West Indies. Fans, upset at Pakistan's poor show in their opening World Cup matches, took to social media to vent their frustration at Moin when pictures of him at the casino circulated in the media.

He was subsequently ordered back from Australia and relieved of his duties after Pakistan's World Cup ended with a quarter-final loss to Australia.

Moin was replaced as chief selector by Haroon Rashid in a overhaul of sorts after suggestions from the World Cup review committee.

But the veteran of 69 Test and 219 ODIs said the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had acted in haste.

"It is not a crime to go and have food in a Casino or pose for some photographs with friends or fans in the Casino. The matter was not so big as it was made out to be. The board should have trusted me and it didn't handle the issue properly. Calling me back sent out all the wrong signals."

The PCB on March 30 appointed Azhar Ali as captain of the One-day International team with Sarfraz Ahmed as his deputy while Haroon Rasheed replaced Moin as chief selector in what many former players said was the start of a 'new era' for Pakistan cricket.

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Adnan

Apr 07, 2015 08:27pm

I don't care about his casino visit. It wasn't something hidden at all and western players do it all the time too. But sure it was against Pakistani culture and norms. I wanted Moin to be sacked only because of his bad choices. He should never have selected Ehsan Adil and then instead of Jamshed, we surely needed Azhar Ali as he was the best suited player to play out the new ball.

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Sarwar

Apr 07, 2015 09:38pm

Trusted you? Why?

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Junaid

Apr 07, 2015 09:47pm

Please keep the speeches to yourself. Initially I used to believe him as well as a sensible person when he used to come on GEO SPORTS with his brother Nadeem and Basit Ali. But after seeing what he selected for the WC given how crappy our batting has been not just in Australia and S Africa, even on UAE pitches. None the less, the bigger question is that why did he ask to insert the clause in his contract to let him travel with the team. What was the reason for it and to top that he had his wife travel on PCB expense as well. Also PCB needs to explain as to why they accepted this demand. No where in the world chief selector travels with team at the board's expense. As far as the casino dinner is concerned, Mr. Khan should know that media will exaggerate everything. It is you who should have avoided the casino visit given the match fixing scandal that recently plagued Pakistan cricket. No one is saying you gambled but being there, given the history, it opens the doors to suspicions.

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Anupam

Apr 07, 2015 09:49pm

u were good player but not good administrator

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AXH

Apr 07, 2015 10:38pm

It was not the casino visit, it was your poor selection, lack of planning and insistence of accompanying the team on the event when you should have stayed back home and focused on your duties.

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Omer

Apr 07, 2015 11:16pm

I trust you Moin. Who can forget you..... perhaps one of the most brilliant wicket keepers Pakistan has seen. Who can forget your never ending chants of shabash,shahbash and yourself from behind the stumps. Maybe not the best selector, but he is not worse than the lot we have now or before him. He was just made a scape goat

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Asad

Apr 07, 2015 11:17pm

Why do people go to casinos? For dinning out there are many other places available in a city. Why would one go to a casino just for eating, this is something beyond understanding of a common man.

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Zuhaib

Apr 07, 2015 11:32pm

With bigger position comes greater responsibility.. ever heard it.?

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Vic

Apr 07, 2015 11:36pm

Pakistan lost first two matches, people,cricket board & media wanted to vent their frustration. They found this guy is casino, vallah .. He was not gambling or doing something illegal, he was just at wrong place at the wrong time.

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optimist

Apr 08, 2015 01:16am

The people of Pakistan and the media were angry with Moin for selecting such a bad team and then going with the team on tour as a tourist to watch and enjoy the game with his family, all this at the cost of tax payers. Moin should come up with the team that the selectors proposed, and what was the recommendation fo the captain and coach, which was vetod by Haroon Rashid who attended the selectors meeting on the day of selection.

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Khan

Apr 08, 2015 01:52am

You picked the worst team buddy! Why was YK in the team and Fawad Alam not? Why did Sarfraz not play in the first 4 matches. Why was Ehsan Adil and Nasir jamshed even in the team, they are by far the worst players in our domestic circuit. Trust you, yea right!

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Feroz

Apr 08, 2015 02:03am

It may be time to rebuild with a new team.

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Malik

Apr 08, 2015 02:24am

It was casino's visit folks, lets admit it which we blew out of big proportion (Himalayan). Had he not gone to casino coupled with our defeat from West Indies, no one would have noticed such visit. I live in Las Vegas and go to casino many times. Shockingly, many Islamic functions are held in casino's lounges, or halls, even marriages performed and mullas give their lecture and nikah ceremony here.

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Dekh Magar Pyaar Se

Apr 08, 2015 02:34am

@AXH No, it was the casino visit

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optimist

Apr 08, 2015 03:12am

@Khan The team announced was not pickled by Moin and Khan and other selectors. Moin Khan paid the price for insistiong on the selection of Sarfaraz Ahmad.

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Shah

Apr 08, 2015 04:08am

You're the selector of the a team one of whose claim to fame is match fixing and you are going to a casino, it doesn't really matter if you went their to eat, shot, gamble, clean the floor, wash dishes, sleep , what matters is the your poor judgement. Wrong place, wrong time considering your position. I would've fired you immediately.

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Hamid Khan

Apr 08, 2015 04:37am

Great Moin, PCB wrongly called back, actual selection was wrong, unwanted players selected YK, Jamshed, Afridi, Akmal, Shazad all they are not deserved to selected for W/Cp. You should shown strong selector and taken strong decision which not taken, you have have to either taken Rashid Latif example.

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Imtiaz

Apr 08, 2015 05:30am

Lack of judgement . I live in USA I find it amusing to hear "I went for dinner" anybody who believes it ,I have a bridge to sell you

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Mabob

Apr 08, 2015 05:43am

Even a black sheep has its day, no matter for sacrifice or charity.

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Irfan

Apr 08, 2015 06:25am

Wrong place at wrong time??If we win the match against WI or India then it has not been arised issue but due to back to back loss moin made vulnerable.

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badshah

Apr 08, 2015 07:12am

I have no sympathy for him, the selection he made for the World Cup was hopeless which confirmed that he was not fit for the job. Unfortunately he was kicked out of job for the casino trip.

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rathorew

Apr 08, 2015 07:42am

@AXH Good points!

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Omar

Apr 08, 2015 08:00am

He should have been fired on selection of Nasir Jamshed and Ehsan Adil and benching Sarfaraz Ahmed.

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Shahid

Apr 08, 2015 08:03am

@Imtiaz , Yes we all who live in the west, know that he didn't go there for dinner. But we also know that it doesn't mean that he was to fix some match or do some fishy business. Actually, he was never needed in Australia/NZ and should not been sent with the team. I would support him if he can give me a single reason for selecting an unfit, over weight Nasir Jamshed and not Azhar Ali.

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Eli

Apr 08, 2015 08:16am

Sure, we should have trusted him....after all, time and again we have shown how innocent we can be..

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shehzad

Apr 08, 2015 09:05am

so sir... then y did u come and apologized to the nation. Now when u dint end up getting any post you are crticizing pcb...opportunist

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Jazzy

Apr 08, 2015 10:27am

He has got what he deserve.He should have known better and plus he wasent up to the job.

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Mirza

Apr 08, 2015 10:31am

He is the only guy that I know who went to a casino and lost without putting in a cent at roulette table. Yes! wrong place at the wrong time

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Ashraf Usman

Apr 08, 2015 10:39am

Selectors do not accompany the team. What were you doing in New Zealand?

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Faraz

Apr 08, 2015 10:43am

You are worried about your reputation? You were also named in the justice qayuum report for match fixing

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A disappointed cricket lover

Apr 08, 2015 11:07am

Don't worry buddy about the past. Now you are free to go to any casino or other houses of pleasure (to have your dinner, of course) to your heart's content. Pakistanis do not hold any grudges against your visit to such places. But they want to see results in cricket. After all the nation is paying for the team and management's dinners and trips.

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shair khan

Apr 08, 2015 11:50am

PCB is wrong

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shair khan

Apr 08, 2015 11:51am

@Imtiaz when are you ready to buy the bridge

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Kumar

Apr 08, 2015 12:48pm

I feel sorry for him. I go to casino for a good food with family & friends as every casino here has a great restaurant as wel.

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SGKhan_Karachi

Apr 09, 2015 12:05pm

Everyone makes mistakes. It was poor judgement on his part to head out to dinner at 3 AM, a night before the Pak V WI match, especially considering how badly we lost to India. The tone is always set from the top - and if this was the tone being set by the team's CS, one can imagine the mood amongst the players

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