Former cricketer threatens to go on a 'hunger strike till death'

Lahore, June 22 (UNI) Former Pakistan Test cricketer Mohammad Ilyas is threatening to go on a ''hunger strike till death'' from June 25 in Islamabad in protest against the PCB's decision to ban him from entering the Gaddafi Stadium.

Talking to presspersons at the Lahore Press Club, Ilyas said, ''It was a painful moment of my life when I was told that a ban has been imposed on my entering the Gaddafi Stadium where I played cricket decades ago.'' Ilyas, who is also father-in-law of Test opener Imran Farhat, was banned in April after a row over the selection of the squad for a one-day series against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi.

Ilyas allegedely threatened the selectors that ''war is on'' after the omission of Imran from the squad. Imran was also fined and reprimanded by the board for approaching the selectors and demanding an explanation for being left out of the squad.

''I was unaware of the ban until hearing about it from a third party,'' Ilyas said.

''I was just 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 added.

He said he made a call to PCB CEO Shafqat Naghmi to enquire the reasons as to why he was banned from entering the stadium.

''But the PCB official refused to give any reason and said that I cannot enter the stadium as it was the property of the PCB and Test cricketers have no right on it,'' said Ilyas.

He said his strike would continue untill the eight-year long ad hocism in the PCB is removed and the ban imposed by the board on his entry into the Gaddafi Stadium is lifted.

He also demanded the PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf should be sacked and restoration of previous salaries of all the PCB staff.

On being asked about the impact of his agitation on his son-in-law Imran's future, he said, ''I am protesting for my own self against the undemocratic attitude of the PCB.'' Mohammad Ilyas played as an opening batsman in ten test matches for Pakistan between 1964-1969.

UNI