LAHORE – The Pakistan Cricket Board has backed the ICC anti-corruption tribunal which banned three Pakistan cricketers last weekend over spot fixing charges. PCB chairman Ijaz Butt says the minimum suspension of five years on Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir is “regrettable and a sad reality which must be faced.”
The tribunal found all three players guilty of corruption after allegations that they bowled no-balls at prearranged times during the fourth Test against England in August last year. Amir’s lawyer Shahid Karim has said he would appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport while Salman Butt has also said he would think about it.
In August 2010, when this issue surfaced, the three players were under contract with PCB. As their employer, PCB provided them with legal support in U.K. at that time. However, after they were provisionally suspended by ICC under the Anti Corruption Code, the players had to face the tribunal in their individual capacity. PCB thereafter implemented the clause 4.6.4 of the ICC Anti Corruption Code which states that no player may play, coach or otherwise participate or be involved in any capacity in any international match or any other kind of match, function, event or activity during the period of Provisional Suspension.
Ijaz Butt said: “The time from August last when spot-fixing came to light, has been an extremely painful one for Pakistan cricket. I now hope that this unfortunate saga is put to rest and we can concentrate on cricket. We will continue to work with ICC on this sensitive matter in future also. We will also see how we can help the 3 players with their education and rehabilitation program.”
Under the ICC Anti Corruption Code, the appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) has to be filed within 21 days by the players. PCB itself has no intention to appeal against the decision of the tribunal in the CAS. “The PCB is determined to ensure the threat of corruption is dealt with severely and will do everything in its power to ensure the integrity of cricket is protected,” Ijaz Butt said.
“Like all my colleagues in the ICC I am determined to maintain the integrity of our sport. This is fundamental,” he added. Nasim Ashraf feels ‘great sadness’: A former Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, Dr Nasim Ashraf, has voiced “great sadness” at the lengthy bans given to three Pakistani players for spot-fixing, but said that the punishment was justified because there was no place for corruption in cricket.
“It is a matter of great sadness not only for these three players, but for all of cricket, particularly Pakistan cricket,” Dr. Ashraf said in a statement issued on Monday. “One really feels for Aamir, an 18 -year- old who got sucked into the dirty world of corruption.”
But there must be zero tolerance for corruption, he added: “Not only did they shame themselves, they brought shame upon the entire nation. For the sake of future Aamirs and Asifs, and for cleaning up cricket, the punishment is justified. Let this be a lesson for all cricketers. There is no place for corruption in cricket.”
Nasim added: “Cricket players are icons in any country, particularly Pakistan. They are role models. They have to live up to the immense faith and admiration of the nation. “It is a sad day for cricket, but Pakistan must show to the world that we are capable of meeting our moral and legal responsibilities like any other civilised nation.”
