Former cricketers, officials and government functionaries believe that the verdict is a lesson for all cricketers. Here are reactions from former cricketers.
Rashid Latif
They deserved this punishment, they had it coming. But now the Pakistan government and the Pakistan Cricket Board should also take action against them. These convictions will hopefully serve as a deterrent to others in future because cricket should not be allowed to be corrupted by anyone.
Shahid Afridi
I feel sorry for the trio’s family members. It’s a tough time for the family members of the three players. They should have not taken the wrong course. They should have been cautious in their career. They should have learnt halal and haram and I am thankful that my upbringing was an example.”
Jallaluddin
Given the terms of the sentences, the verdict is not that harsh. Now is the time for the PCB to take some harsh decisions and there should be no political appointments in the board. It would be difficult for these cricketers to come back in the game but it’s their fundamental right to be given the right to start their careers once they serve their punishments. This verdict would make the corrupt cricketers more cautious and only those are criminals who are caught. These three cricketers were trapped and caught.”
Senator Enver Baig The Justice Quyyam reports said everything about what steps should be taken to prevent the match-fixing but nothing was done to control the epidemic. I believe cases should be filed against all those PCB officials who have failed to handle the issue.
Moin Khan
The way the case progressed and the events unfolded, it was expected that the trio would be handed punishments. Aaamer admitted early on and the others tried to defend. The case was strong against Salman and Asif and in the end they got what they deserved.
Zaheer Abbas
It is a sad day for Pakistan cricket but I think the authorities now need to take a fresh look at world cricket in light of this case
The people including myself today face an embarrassment. It is a black day. Who would have thought that one day cricketers would be sent to jail.
Ramiz Raja
The decision is hard one for the families of the three cricketers. Justice has been done and you got to get rid of the corrupt elements from the game. The verdict will act as a great deterrent for future aspirants. These big fishes need to be taken to task.
Even though there was sympathy for Aamer he was quietly and secretly be given a chance by the ICC to come up clean before the trail began but he didn’t. As a result he is behind the bars as well. He would have learned his lessons but it’s a hard way to learn, especially when you are 18 or 19.
Waqar Younis
I was part of the team when the whole episode took place. It was an ugly side of the game. I don’t know much about the criminal law in England but cricketers being sentenced to jail is sad for cricket and bad for Pakistan. Unfortunately it has happened now and I pray the whole episode should end and Pakistan need to start afresh. I could not even think of any of these guys being involved when the whole thing was taking place. If I knew then things could have been managed differently and the board could have got involved and unfortunately it ends this way and they have to suffer.
Basit Ali
What is the ACU doing that is the question: such a big scandal could break out and happened under their noses? The ICC and member boards need to review their working. The judgment passed was a stigma on Pakistan cricket and would not be washed away for a long time.
A sad day for Pakistan cricket
