RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Monday turned down a plea filed against the national cricket team’s poor performance in the ongoing Cricket World Cup.

A single bench of IHC comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah heard of the petition and dismissed the same while referring to Pakistan’s win over South Africa on Sunday last.

The petitioner Bilal Farooq Alvi filed the petition through his counsel Syed Asad Abbas Advocate against the abysmal performance and selection of the Pakistan cricket team.

The petitioner’s lawyer stressed that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the selection committee have failed and therefore, he prayed to the court to allow proceedings against the respondents.

Farooq adopted in his petition that the national cricket board is answerable to the nation viz-a-viz the courts. He maintained that the instant petition has been filed to invoke extraordinary constitutional jurisdiction of this court for taking all such steps, which are deemed necessary, to curb the evils of nepotism, favoritism, despotism, corruption, and mal-administration in the national cricket board. It also raised some questions related to the selection of the team players.

He requested the court to formulate a fact-finding commission over reports of grouping within the current World Cup squad and an inquiry be conducted against those who are responsible. It also said that the court should look into the team selection procedure.

The petitioner also sought action against chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and chief selector of the national team for their poor performance in the ongoing World Cup.

The petitioner cited Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination, PCB chairman and chief selector as respondents.