Pakistan cricketers accused of smoking sheesha before India game again; petition filed

It’s over for the Pakistan players as far as the 2019 Cricket World Cup is concerned. However, for the country’s cricket fans, it’s still far from over. Even after the members of the squad returned to their country and spoke to the media to clear all air and confusion and took the responsibility for the debacle on their shoulders, it seems some souls are still not content.

A petition has been filed at Sindh High Court against some of the Pakistan cricketers including Shoaib Malik, Imam-ul-Haq, Wahab Riaz and even captain Sarfaraz Ahmed accusing them of consuming junk food and smoking sheesha on the eve of the big clash against arch-rivals India at Old Trafford on June 16. This happened despite the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Malik clarifying that the videos that went viral showing them at a sheesha place in London was an old one and not taken on June 15 night.

Even Malik’s wife Sania Mirza was dragged into the controversy by the angry fans, especially after the former failed for a golden duck in the game. As per reports in Pakistani media, the petitioner – an advocate by the name of Abdul Jalil Marwat – said the players’ smoking of sheesha as the main reason for their disappointing performance against India. Virat Kohli’s men won that game comprehensively by 89 runs via DLS Method following rain intervention.

“In this important match, senior player Shoaib Malik scored zero runs, Imam-ul-Haq scored seven runs and Wahab Riaz took only one wicket,” the petition reads, according to Pakistan’s Samaa TV.

Pakistan minister also slams cricketers

Even Pakistan’s ministers were not ready to spare the team. “When sheesha smoking is indulged in hours before the match what can one expect but humiliation,” Shireen Mazari. Minister for Human Rights in the Imran Khan’s government, said.
Malik had hit back later while clarifying that they were old videos. He said despite serving Pakistan cricket for two decades, he still has to clarify things related to his personal life. “The videos are from 13th June and not 15th,” he had tweeted.

Malik quit ODI cricket after Pakistan’s run in the World Cup came to an end. He got to play in just three games in the tournament and scored eight runs with two consecutive zeroes against Australia and India.