Moin provided security at residence

Chief selector Moin Khan, recalled from the World Cup for visiting a casino, returned to Pakistan to a hostile reception as cricket fans staged angry demonstrations on Thursday.

The 43-year-old slipped away quietly from Karachi International Airport to avoid a small crowd of youngsters who had shown up with banners of disapproval.

Security then had to be provided for the former Test captain when he reached home as more unhappy fans waited for him outside.

"We have deployed some police at Moin's residence for security reasons as people were causing disturbances," said senior police official Tariq Dharejo.

Television channels showed youngsters at the airport smashing eggs on their heads in anger after learning Moin had left.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sent Moin home from Australia and New Zealand after he had gone to a Christchurch casino the night before a match against West Indies.

The PCB said its chairman would meet Moin on Friday to hear his side of the story although the former wicketkeeper-batsman has already apologised for his actions.

"I went to the casino to have dinner with some friends but in hindsight it was an inappropriate judgement on my part given the disappointment in the team's performance at the World Cup," said Moin.

"I apologise to the people. I never realised my actions would have such serious repercussions."

Gambling and alcohol are prohibited in Islamic Pakistan and former Test players have questioned why Moin, a member of the triumphant 1992 World Cup-winning squad, visited the casino.

"He has brought shame to Pakistan cricket and should be blacklisted," said ex-paceman Sarfraz Nawaz.

Another former fast bowler, Shahid Nazer, said: "The PCB should hold a judicial inquiry...how can a chief selector behave so carelessly?".

Pakistan have lost their first two World Cup matches to India and West Indies by big margins and need to find a significant turnaround in form to qualify for the knockout stages.

They are bottom of Group B, a seven-team section that includes non-Test playing nations Ireland and United Arab Emirates.

PCB investigating casino fiasco in detail: Shaharyar

Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Shaharyar Khan has made it clear that a full-scale inquiry is being conducted into chief selector Moin Khan's visit to a Casino in Christchurch before a World Cup match for which he was sent back home.

"Moin has said that he went there to have dinner but that is his statement. According to our information there is more to this incident and we are investigating that in detail," Khan said.

Moin, 43, returned home to an angry reception on Thursday after being called back from the World Cup by the PCB. He went to the Casino the night before the game against the West Indies which Pakistan lost by 150 runs.

At the Karachi airport, Moin had to slip away to avoid a small group of angry youth who were carrying eggs to embarrass the former Pakistan captain.

Shaharyar said the Senate Standing Committee on Inter-provincial Coordination and government officials had taken notice of the incident, which left the PCB with no option but to call back Moin from Australia and New Zealand.

"The incident took place in Christchurch while the team is now in Brisbane which is why it is taking some time to complete our inquiry," Khan said.

"It will take another two or three days to complete the inquiry and findings will be made public," he added.

Khan said after Moin's apology it had become clear he had gone to the Casino.

"Moin has apologised to the people via the media but we have to yet receive any written apology or statement from him.

I will meet him soon to after which he will issue a detailed statement," he said.

The treatment meted out to Moin has created a divide in Pakistan cricket circles with some people expressing concern that the former captain may been made a scapegoat for the team's poor show in the World Cup. Pakistan have lost two India and the Windies by big margins.

Image: Moin Khan

Photograph: Vipin Pawar/Solaris Images