Their predicament arises following the emergence of pictures and videos showing them inside a Colombo casino during the Asia Cup 2023. Both individuals were present in Colombo in official capacities as part of the Pakistani contingent for the prestigious tournament. This ill-advised visit to a gambling establishment has inevitably raised alarms within the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit, as it constitutes a breach of the code of conduct, categorizing such places as prohibited.

On social media, numerous Pakistani cricket fans voiced their displeasure, questioning the “immaturity” and “carelessness” of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials in engaging in gambling activities during an international event as significant as the Asia Cup.

Criticism has also been directed at the trend of several PCB officials making trips to Colombo during the Asia Cup under the guise of official visits.

A PCB source disclosed that a considerable number—approximately 15-20—of PCB officials had been shuttling between Colombo and Lahore. Some had even been stationed in Colombo permanently, owing to Pakistan’s role as the official host of the Asia Cup.

In response to the uproar caused by Pakistani news channels running headlines about their casino visit, the two officials attempted to clarify that their presence at the casino was solely for dinner. This explanation, however, was met with widespread skepticism on social media and drew criticism from former Test players.

The source within the PCB emphasized that the two officials should not have visited the casino, where gambling activities were ongoing. As a result, they could potentially face severe disciplinary action upon their return.

The PCB’s Cricket Management Committee, according to the source, may find it challenging to overlook the incident despite the clarification provided by the two officials.

Ironically, during the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, Pakistan’s former captain Moin Khan, who served as the manager and chief selector of the team, was summoned back to Pakistan in the midst of the tournament. This happened after he and his wife were spotted at a casino in Christchurch before a match against West Indies. Moin claimed innocence, stating that they had gone for dinner, but the then PCB Chairman, Shaharyar Khan, made it clear that Moin had violated both the team’s and his contractual code of conduct. At the time, Khan justified his decision by emphasizing that all PCB officials and players were required to adhere to the board’s and ICC’s Anti-Corruption Code, which strictly discouraged visits to places where gambling occurred or where there was an elevated risk of corruption.