Lahore, June 12:

Pakistan sacked a high-profile cricket official, who said he had been accused of leaking a confidential email to the media which criticised the team.

The Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed that former fast bowler Salim Altaf, who was overseeing the 2011 World Cup to be hosted in the subcontinent, was fired but the official played down the incident. “Altaf’s services were no more required but I would not say he was accused of leakage to the media,” Pakistan Cricket Board chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi said.

But Altaf said he was sacked after local media published an email by Pakistan’s cricket chief accusing the national team of lacking commitment after they suffered their biggest-ever defeat against arch-rivals India this week. “I have worked to the best of sincerity and honesty but today PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf called me to his office and accused me of leaking news to the media,” Altaf said. “He gave me the option of resigning or else said that he will sack me,” Altaf added.

Altaf, who played 21 Tests for Pakistan in 1970s as medium fast bowler, was made director for special projects after serving as chief executive of the PCB until September last year. India thrashed Pakistan by 140 runs in the tri-series match held in Dhaka, Bangladesh on Tuesday. They posted a formidable 330-8 and then bowled Pakistan out for a paltry 190.