Former Pak Test cricketer to go on hunger strike

KARACHI: Pakistan Test opener Imran Farhat's father-in-law and former Test cricketer Mohammad Ilyas will go on a hunger strike from June 25 to protest the ban on his entry to Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium.

Ilyas, who threatened Pakistan's selection committee for omitting Farhat for the Abu Dhabi series against Sri Lanka, was banned from entering the stadium by the board.

Farhat, meanwhile, was fined and put under observation for six months following the incident.

Ilyas said the PCB had no right to ban him as the stadium belonged to the players.

"When I called PCB COO Shafqat Naghmi to know the reasons for this punishment, he declined to give any reason just saying that I cannot enter the stadium," Ilyas said.

"I tried to advise the COO that the stadium belonged to the Test cricketers but he (Naghmi) kept insisting that it was the property of the PCB and Test cricketers have no right on it," he added.

Undeterred by the ban, Ilyas said he would continue to protest against the board.

"If Imran performs and he is not selected again then I will also stage a protest. The war is on with PCB and I will fight it for the sake of dignity and self esteem of a former Test cricketer," he said.

Justifying his showdown with the selectors, Ilyas said the panel had been unfair to his son-in law.

"I was upset over the way they selected the team for Abu Dhabi and I vented my anger. But I have never harmed anyone in my life," he said.