Although embarrassed after his stinging e-mail castigating the Pakistan team appeared in newspapers, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Nasim Ashraf defended shooting off the strongly-worded letter, saying it was his duty to point out the ills that plague the side.
Insisting that the mail was not meant to demoralise the team after the pounding they received against India, Ashraf said, "As the board Chairman, it is my job to point out some glaring mistakes that were obvious in the match and the mail was meant to lift up the spirits of the players."
Before leaving for Bangladesh to watch the final of the tri-series, Ashraf said team manager Talat Ali had responded by assuring him that the team management was taking corrective measures to ensure the team played well tomorrow.
Talat himself defended the mail from the board Chairman in Dhaka saying it was nothing unusual and the head of the PCB normally exchanged mails and views with him and this was his right.
"As President of the board he has every right to guide us," Talat said.
Ashraf reached Dhaka this afternoon and immediately went into a meeting with captain Shoaib Malik and Talat although it was not confirmed if coach Geoff Lawson was also attending the meeting.
The chairman's mail was leaked out in the media on Thursday and former Test player Saleem Altaf was removed from the Board on charges of leaking it to the media.
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IND vs AUS 4th Test Live Score, Day 5 Latest Updates: The weather forecast has predicted rain on the final day as well. India need 324 more runs to win, while Australia need 10 wickets to seal the deal. All three results still possible but will rain play villain? Follow live updates.
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Brisbane : India's Shardul Thakur, left, celebrates the dismissal of Australia's Tim Paine, right, during play on day four of the fourth cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba, Brisbane, Australia, Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. AP/PTI(AP01_18_2021_000018B)(AP)
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India's Mohammed Siraj celebrates the dismissal on the 4th day of the fourth test match between Australia and India, at Brisbane Cricket Ground in Gabba on Monday.(Agencies)
Australian bowler Mitchell Starc checks his boot during play on day three of the fourth cricket Test between India and Australia at the Gabba, Brisbane(AP)
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LiveMohammed Siraj of India celebrates the wicket of Marnus Labuschagne of Australia during day four of the fourth test match between Australia and India at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, January 18, 2021. AAP Image/Darren England via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVE. AUSTRALIA OUT. NEW ZEALAND OUT(via REUTERS)
