The Pakistan Cricket Board on Thursday sacked former Test player Saleem Altaf as Director, Special Projects, on charges of leaking confidential information of the Board.

According to sources, the decision came after an exchange of words between Altaf and PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf.

Altaf was accused of leaking Ashraf's e-mail, to team manager Talat Ali, in which the PCB chief had lambasted the Pakistan team for their disastrous performance in the ongoing tri-series in Bangladesh.

• Bangladesh Tri-series

Altaf was Director Cricket Operations in the tenure of former PCB chief Shaharyar Khan but demoted to Director Special Projects after Ashraf took charge in late 2006.

An official of the Board said Altaf has been dismissed with immediate effect.

The decision came on a day when some newspapers published a confidential e-mail that Ashraf had sent to the Pakistan team manager, Talat Ali, in Bangladesh after the loss to India in the tri-series earlier this week.

Ashraf, in a strongly-worded mail, lashed out at the Pakistan captain, coach and players.

Sources said the PCB had suspected Altaf was behind the leakage of the mail and other sensitive information in recent days and unhappy about it, as it caused them lot of embarrassment.

Altaf was directly appointed to the PCB by chief patron President Pervez Musharraf [Images] and sources said he was pushing to be put on the 2012 World Cup Committee.

Altaf said he was disappointed and upset with the way his services were terminated.

"They have given me nothing in writing. They just told me today you are sacked and leave the office. My driver came to the stadium and they seized the car by force, took the keys and told the security personal to show me the way out. Is this the way to treat former players?" he said.

Altaf said he is consulting his legal advisor. If the Board does not give his termination in writing he will take legal action.

"They charged me with leaking information which is totally wrong," he added.

Board officials said the decision to sack Altaf came after the chairman ordered his telephone to be bugged and recorded some eight hours of discussions he had with various people.

Altaf said tapping of his phone was illegal and he would seek legal redress.

"I am a former Pakistan player who has remained selector, manager and administrator. I came to serve Pakistan cricket. This is how they treat me," he said.