Mahmud defends casino stint

Bangladesh team manager Khaled Mahmud yesterday defended himself from the wave of criticism after an online website uploaded a photo of him in a casino where he went at around 11:30 on the night of February 26 in Melbourne.

The incident sparked a debate in Bangladesh as it has taken place at a time when pacer Al-Amin Hossain was sent back home for staying out of the team hotel late at night in Brisbane without any permission from the team management.

"It is very unfortunate. I can assure everybody that I didn't do anything wrong because I am very much aware of my duty. And one thing what I want to clear that there is no deadline for me as a manager of the team but of course I have to maintain the discipline," said Mahmud, who is also a BCB director and chairman of the BCB's games development committee.

"I didn't have my dinner as I was upset after the defeat against Sri Lanka. But suddenly I felt hungry at night and went outside with Mahbub bhai (Mahbub Anam) and Obaid bhai (Obaid Nizam). On the way back to the hotel someone called me and asked about the reason behind the defeat in front of that Casino. I guess someone then took the picture which came in different online websites and the social media. If you look at the picture you can understand that I was just standing there with some other people," Mahmud claimed.

Earlier, Bangladesh pacer Al-Amin was sent back as he had arrived in the team hotel after the 10pm curfew set by the management. While a number of players in the team were in support of a milder punishment against the bowler, BCB president Nazmul Hassan Papon decided to take the hard-line and withdrew him from the World Cup squad. Back home, Al-Amin is now playing for Khulna in the National Cricket League. 

Pakistan chief selector Moin Khan was also asked by his country's cricket board to return home after the former national cricketer was spotted at a casino. It created a stir among the Pakistani media and Khan was expected to explain his conduct to the PCB chairman yesterday.