LAHORE—July 16, 2014: Pakistan Cricket Board Women Wing is shocked and saddened at Haleema Rafiq’s death, reportedly from suicide. The young woman cricketer from Multan was apparently under extreme stress after defamation notice for Rs20 million was served on her by the owner of the Multan Cricket Club, Maulvi Sultan Alam for levelling allegations of sexual harassment against him last year on a private television channel.
Other than five women cricketers, the main respondents in the suit are: chief executive of the private TV channel, its anchor and reporter.
Pakistan Cricket Board Women Wing had no contact with any of the five girls after it banned them for six months with effect from October 23, 2013 following a thorough investigation found that the allegations were false. Of the five cricketers, Saba Ghafoor and Haleema Rafiq had not appeared before the inquiry committee.
Click here for the Press Release issued on October 24, 2013 announcing the ban:
Click here for the Inquiry Report:
Though the ban had expired on April 22, 2014, none of the five cricketers participated in any PCB event, including the National Championship.
PCB Women Wing shares the grief of the bereaved family and prays that Almighty may give them the strength and courage to bear this loss.
