The name of Pakistan and its cricket has suffered a big blow because of the controversy that surrounds some of our key players and officials of the PCB that accompanied the team on its recent tour to UK. Stories of corruption scams have tarnished our national prestige.
A report was telecast today on Sky TV, vis-a-vis cricket corruption scandals and involvement of few players with betting mafia, where it was stressed that players accused of involvement must voluntarily submit to lie detector tests. The assets accumulated by these players within their countries, or abroad, need to be accounted for otherwise, it can be safely assumed that charges levelled are justified.
Pakistan is today isolated in the cricket world because of mismanagement by the PCB.
It can no longer afford to defy the ICC because the consequences of that will deal a severe blow to the future of cricket in Pakistan. The players and team management needs to be quizzed as to what stopped them from enforcing discipline. Since the Chairman PCB was himself present on almost all the tours, he cannot absolve himself of his responsibility.
IRFAN BUTT
UK
(II)
The whole nation had to suffer humiliation at the hands of few undisciplined members of our national cricket team and team officials that accompanied them. These few players and present PCB management have done immense damage to our future status as an honourable cricket playing nation.
It was pure greed and indiscipline of players like Salman Butt, Asif, Amir, Kamran Akmal, manager Yawar, and assistant manager Shafqat Rana that directly contributed to our nation’s public humiliation.
There should be no space for them, nor any sympathy. What role can Mr Wasim Bari perform now as Director Education when he failed as COO.
The PCB is still headed by Ijaz Butt in spite of all the damage done under his watch. Does national prestige and honour have no value for those who head this government or hold the portfolio of Cricket Patron?
NAZEER ABRO
Hyderabad
