PCB pulls up Younis over state-of-war comment

Updated on: 05 June,2009 05:01 PM IST |
Agencies |

Pak skipper reprimanded over comments

Younis Khan's comment that Pakistan is in a state of war has upset the PCB, which feels the national skipper's statement will hurt the country's chances of convincing the ICC that it is safe to play cricket here.

"It was an unnecessary statement and obviously they are some areas on which players should not air their views," said Saleem Altaf, Pakistan Cricket Board's Chief Operating Officer. Altaf said the board had a word with the manager Yawar Saeed in England.

"I think our players need to be careful with their remarks. But certainly Younis's remarks are not helpful to our cause," he added.

Younis' comments came at a time when the PCB is preparing to attend a special meeting of the World Cup host countries convened by the ICC in London in a bid to end a deadlock over the decision to shift the tournament matches from Pakistan on security grounds.

Pakistan has launched a legal challenge against the decision and claim that it is as safe to host the World Cup matches in Pakistan as in the other host countries. Younis, in his interview to the "Jang" newspaper had said, that the players were aware that Pakistan was in a state of war and that they wanted to do well in the ICC Twenty20 World Cup for the victims of terrorism.

Younis also said that his team would donate part of its earnings from the tournament to the displaced people of SWAT valley.