Pak's revenue authorities freeze skipper Misbah's bank account over alleged tax evasion

Pakistan cricket team captain Misbah-ul Haq's bank account have been frozen by the country's revenue authorities over alleged tax evasion by the player and thus plunged the star into fresh crisis.

Misbah is currently struggling with poor form with the bat and pulled out of the third and final ODI against Australia in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) spokesman Shahid Hussain revealed that batsman Azhar Ali's accounts have also been frozen. He said that Misbah has not paid taxes of 3.9 million rupees and Ali owes 1.5 million rupees in taxes, The Dawn reported.

So, Hussain added that the FBR has frozen their accounts and as per rules their banks would be asked to deduct the amount if it is there in their accounts.

A number of players have been investigated for tax evasion in the past few years.

In 2012, the FBR had warned Misbah and a number of players over tax evasion, and in July this year the skipper finance minister Ishaq Dar to resolve the income tax issues.

Dar reportedly promised to resolve the issue but categorically told the players that paying taxes is a national obligation for every citizen.

Tax evasion is rampant in Pakistan, according to FBR figures, less than 0.5 per cent of Pakistanis pay income tax, or just 7,50,000 individuals out of a population of some 180 million, the report added.