The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has condemned what it refers to as ‘agenda-driven fake news’ intended to damage the reputation of national cricket players.
This statement was released on Thursday in response to reports from various Indian media outlets claiming that an unnamed member of Pakistan’s squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup had ‘misbehaved’ with a female housekeeper at a hotel prior to their Super Eight match against Sri Lanka in Kandy.
Sources indicate that similar allegations were reported by ARY News, which identified Salman Mirza as the player implicated. However, this report has since been retracted.
The PCB’s official statement did not mention any specific news reports or directly address the allegations.
In its statement, the PCB declared, “Agenda-driven fake news aimed at undermining the character of our players is intolerable and will not be accepted.”
The board further insisted that the journalist responsible for these claims issue a public apology immediately.
PCB demands apology for agenda-driven fake news
The PCB cautioned that if an apology is not provided, it will take all necessary measures to confront what it termed ‘malicious conduct’ and ensure such actions are ‘dealt with decisively and curtailed at the outset.’
The PCB did not disclose further information regarding the alleged incident or the individuals involved.
The board’s response concentrated on the issue of protecting players from what it described as unfounded and harmful reports.
Reports indicate that the PCB is ready to take further action if the matter is not resolved to its satisfaction.
No additional comments or clarifications have been provided by the PCB concerning the specifics of the allegations or the status of any investigation.
