CHEATS!

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Your Lordship, we don’t punish criminals here we patronise them

 

 

Yes that sounds bad. Worse, actually, in capital letters, and with an exclamation mark at the end making the expression more demeaning. Awful way to address someone, especially in public. Mind your manners and your language or… Or what, you cheat! This is what we the proud Pakistanis must learn to live with along so many other things not worth living for.

But what have we done so wrong, except littering the parks and looting the state, to deserve this admonition. Well, for one we condemn the righteous and glorify the unrighteous ones. Look at our institutions, the parliament, judiciary, executive, look at every pathetic officer parked in a public office sipping tea at our expense and look at the decline in our sports. We reigned as champions of hockey, cricket and squash for many years. Now, we have to seek charity to participate in a tournament.

For now, let us focus on cricket and its regulator, the Pakistan Cricket Board. You see, regulation is not an easy art especially when there is no intent or desire to regulate. Tasked with regulating the passion we call cricket, PCB has done just the opposite, deregulated it, successfully. The terrorists attacking the Sri Lankans may not have damaged our image as much as the PCB has done in the name of building one. This institution and the creatures within, barring a few, have managed to survive at the depths of ignominy with a gifted ease. PCB continues to rule… no ruin our cricket leaving us to ponder if we are cursed or just damned. We are both, an intelligent mind once told me.

As a hospitable nation we invite disrespect frequently. Too frequently, actually. Today’s invitation in question, Muhammad Amir. He graced our national cricket team only to bring disgrace to the entire nation. Convicted for cheating, banned from playing any form of cricket, Amir, with the unguarded support of PCB, has eyes set on a comeback. In fact, courtesy PCB, his second innings has already begun.

First the facts. Pakistan playing England at The Lords; fourth test. Amir to bowl. He starts to run, crosses the umpire and carefully delivers a no ball. Next day he bowls another one. These were not ordinary no balls. Look at the overstepping. It seems like a giant taking its first baby steps. Any umpire even with compromised sight or sense would have seen them from a mile away. Actually in cricketing terms, that is where Amir’s front foot landed, a yawning mile away from the bowling crease. He turns back. Smiles. He had delivered. He kept his promise to the bookie but broke his pledge to his country.

Events started unfolding. The tainted troika Salman, Asif and Amir, was exposed by the News of the World undercover sting. They were caught on camera while taking money from Majeed, a bookie, for bowling no balls during the test match at The Lords. Their cell phone data provided further evidence for the investigators. All three were suspended pending inquiry. Later on ICC imposed a ban on them. The matter did not rest there.

The terrible three were booked for cheating and were criminally charged by the Southwark Crown Court. After hearing, the English judge sentenced all three with Amir handed down imprisonment of six months in Portland Prison. His appeal was dismissed. He went to jail, completed his sentence term and then returned to his betrayed homeland, with his reputation in tatters and the ban still intact.

Actually in cricketing terms, that is where Amir’s front foot landed, a yawning mile away from the bowling crease. He turns back. Smiles. He had delivered

The English judge, Mr Justice Cooke, authored a very emotional judgment. While addressing Salman, Asif, Amir and Majeed, the judge said that “the gravamen of the offences committed by all four of you is the corruption in which you engaged in a pastime, the very name of which used to be associated with fair dealing on the sporting filed. It’s not cricket was an adage. It is the insidious effect of your actions on professional cricket and the followers of it which make the offences so serious. The image and integrity of what was a game, but is now a business is damaged in the eyes of all, including the many youngsters who regarded three of you as heroes and would have given their eye teeth to play at the levels and with the skills that you had.”

The judge knew the gravity of the situation. His hands were tied by the statutes. He knew he could punish Amir only for a prescribed offence under the law. However, he must have pondered, how could he punish Amir for violating the trust of an entire nation? What is the punishment for that? The judge must have convinced himself that the institutions of Pakistan will take care of this aspect. Full marks to his naivety. Your Lordship, we don’t punish criminals here we patronise them.

The apex governing body that controls world cricket also became controversial when an Indian Mr Sirinivasan allegedly involved in IPL betting scandal and who had to step down as head of BCCI, became its chairman. While ICC was groping with unwanted publicity, here in Pakistan we were doing what we do best. Make things worse. The defamed cricketers were invited to TV shows as experts on affairs of cricket! They were caught socialising with reputed figures. Convicts have special privileges here.

The ICC, in a state of dubious magnanimity, decided that it is time to relax its rules for those who were banned from playing cricket. The new ICC rules allowed a cricketer to resume playing before the end of ban imposed on him, much to the delight of the ever so remorseful Amir and the resourceful PCB. An application was moved under the relaxed rules by the PCB for lifting the ban on Amir so that he may play domestic cricket, a name given to our native cesspool of cricket talent.

Lo and Behold! The ICC, the saviour of cricket, the apex regulator, the arbiter of the last resort, the crusader against corruption, decided to allow convicted Amir to play cricket again. What a victory for an individual and what a fall from grace for an institution.

What prevailed with the Chief ASCU was that Amir had accepted his crime, shown remorse and aided the unit in its anti-corruption initiatives. Whether this remorse was real or camouflaged we cannot tell. People believe that he played smart when he was shown all the evidence against him leaving no room for him but to admit his crime. We must not forget that he did not come forward to accept his wrong till such time he was trapped in a well planned and executed sting operation. That does not make his confession voluntary or credible.

The Chief ASCU exercised his discretion in favour of the convict which was subsequently approved by the ICC. For Amir, this may be a chance to make a comeback but for the nation it surely is a cruel setback. I say that because Amir’s case would become a bad precedent which would allow Salman and Asif to sneak into PCB’s backyard. A dreaded eventuality that must be avoided.

It is only natural to ask that how can a discretionary relief granted by an officer of ICC prevail over the sentiments of the entire country? Can a convict be allowed to play in our national team? We should not allow the cricket team of Pakistan, the embodiment of our national aspirations, to become a group of cheats and fraudsters.

Amir maintains that he is ashamed of what he did. He served his time. He followed rehabilitation programs. He claims to be a changed man

According to PCB Constitution (as available on its website) no person who has been convicted of an offence involving moral turpitude can be elected as its Chairman. Similarly, a convicted person cannot become member of the parliament or become director of a public company. One of our prime ministers had to go home after he was convicted for contempt of court. Convicted persons cannot get government jobs or serve on the boards of regulators or public owned enterprises. However, a convicted person can play cricket for Pakistan. What a disgraceful contradiction.

PCB, trusted to compromise on first available opportunity, became active again. The Chairman PCB, an octogenarian by age and clever bureaucrat by reputation, relied on his experience, flanked by his courtiers, tried to justify the Amir ban-lifting episode. The main argument was that ICC removed the ban as per its rules and PCB had no hand in that. Well that may be true, but we know where PCB hands are most of the time. By the way, it was PCB that had filed an application before the ICC to avail the benefit of the relaxed rules.

Why should a criminal convicted of cheating, an offence involving moral turpitude, be allowed to play cricket for the national side. Why a cricketer who betrayed a country, brought shame for its people be allowed to represent that country again. Why a cricketer who deceived his fellow team members be allowed to share the dressing room with them again. This is what the people are asking. Why should he not play, the PCB retorts. A case of convincing connivance at its best.

Amir maintains that he is ashamed of what he did. He served his time. He followed rehabilitation programs. He claims to be a changed man. That may be true. However, there is another dimension that merits mention. Amir’s actions were not only illegal they were also against the interests of the state and the people of Pakistan for which he has not been questioned yet. How would he respond to that? As a changed man Amir’s experiences can be used by PCB for educating the young cricketers. To give him any other role especially a place in the team, would be like perpetuating a fraud.

Has this nation stopped producing fast bowlers or honest cricketers? Is Amir so indispensable for our cricket? No. The recent performances of our bowlers suggest otherwise. Amir is a non-entity. He is a convict. He is relevant only to be quoted as a bad example for others not to follow. A mistake not to be repeated. He should be stripped of all his records and accolades. Remember Lance Armstrong, the disgraced cyclist. It is only with concrete demonstrable resolve and visible steps that we would be able to defeat the menace of cheating from our sports. Apparently PCB thinks otherwise.

The English court convicted Amir, ICC banned him. And our own PCB is pacing up and down to get him back on the cricket ground. What message are we sending to all the youngsters out there. Cheat your way through to glory, we will graciously pardon all your sins and reward you for your wrongs. It is quite intriguing that PCB has not taken any disciplinary action against Amir and his accomplices. Presumably match fixing is not a crime in the eyes of PCB.

Someone must take notice of PCB. The four walls that inhabit a never ending supply of national cricketing debacles must be pierced. The inhabitants must be questioned. The benefactors quizzed. The webbed corridors of PCB must be cleaned up.

Let the words of Mr Justice Cooke conclude this piece. In this judgement while addressing the three cricketers he observed that “in Pakistan where cricket is the national sport, the ordinary follower of the national team feels betrayed by your activities, as do your fellow countrymen in this country. You, Butt, Asif and Amir, have let down all your supporters and all followers of the game.”

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