PCB Blocked My Pension And Now Are Aiming To Silence My Voice: Sarfraz Nawaz
Mar 15, 2017 at 3:23 PM
Former Pakistan first bowler Sarfraz Nawaz has come hard at national cricket board and has further served a legal notice to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), chairman Shaharyar Khan following a recent statement which was released against the Ex-Test cricketer for not allowing him to voice his opinion on Pakistan cricket before the release also stated the media outlets should not give him a space for his ‘vitriolic campaign’.
“At first they [PCB] blocked my pension, and then made attempts to silence my voice…this is ridiculous. They are trying to pin me down in an effort to protect the gambling mafia,” Sarfraz was quoted as saying by Dawn.com.
The 68-year-old Sarfraz further stated he is playing his role for the betterment of the cricket before stating everyone is entitled to the opinion.
The Lahore-born cricketer-turned-commentator said he has raised his voice for the betterment of cricket at the domestic and international level by giving his valuable suggestions to the concerned authorities and players.
“Instead of bringing improvement in the cricket structure, the PCB through the press release has attempted to ban my voice which is always raised for the betterment of cricket,” Sarfraz said.
In February, PCB had revealed in a press release by addressing the media not to give a platform to Sarfraz while stating it may lead to the contempt of court after his “false allegations and spiteful agenda against PCB”.
According to Sarfraz, he asserted the court has also come to the conclusion by stating no false statement has been levelled against the PCB and its members on the personal capacity.
“You, being Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board, are hereby served notice to withdraw the Press Release dated 19.02.2017 issued by the Board within 15 days failing which appropriate legal remedies will be availed which includes initiation of Civil actions for damages and Criminal proceedings in Court of Competent jurisdiction,” Sarfraz stated in his legal notice.
In response, Sarfraz has revealed that he did not level any false allegations against PCB and its executive member Najam Sethi, who is also the chairman of cash-rich Pakistan Super League.
“I have never levelled false allegations against anyone, including Mr [Najam] Sethi. I believe in truth, which I will continue to speak,” Sarfraz revealed.
Sarfraz had played 55 Tests in which he had claimed 177 wickets and bagged 63 in 45 One-day Internationals in his career which was spread over 15 years.
In 299, first-class games, Sarfraz bagged 1,005 wickets at an average of 24.62.