The verdict by a court in London, indicting not just the former captain Salman Butt, but two other players is a slap on the role of PCB under Ijaz Butt. The problem in Pakistan is that this culture of tolerance for corruption and financial irregularities has only led to our loss of credibility internationally. Our failure to punish those caught in financial irregularities has contributed to evolvement of a culture where crime nourishes. Financial and moral corruption is as old as human history.
Through a process of evolution and reforms, morals and ethics are enforced by strict accountability, which alone acts as a deterrence for such crimes. Had the PCB chairman censured these players, when reports emerged of their involvement in irregularities, Pakistan and our players would have been spared this humiliation that we now have to endure.
PCB has a long history for not enforcing discipline amongst players. We failed to implement the report of Justice Qayyum and political recommendations by our ruling elite have also played a negative in encouraging indiscipline. Reports of selectors being accused in writing, demanding bribes for selection have not been taken seriously. It is not that cricketers from Australia, India, England, South Africa, West Indies etc are not involved, or have not been accused of such irregularities, but the role of their respective cricket boards in taking timely action that has prevented criminal proceedings from taking place.
It is the failure of PCB which sends a huge contingent of officials, including a security officer, for allowing our players to be exploited by cricket betting mafia which operates from India, South Africa and UAE. The presence in the PCB of former players with close contacts to the dons of betting mafia reflects poorly on PCB. In the case of these players, namely Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Amir, the role of chairman PCB and the political interference in running affairs of cricket need to be probed. It is the former chairman and members of the PCB governing body are responsible for letting this matter get out of hand.
MALIK TARIQ ALI
Lahore
