Conspiracy to defraud Pakistani cricket
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
International Cricket Council (ICC) has been accused of defrauding Pakistan cricket by Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) chairperson Ijaz Butt. The PCB believes that the “august cricket bodies”, and media from fellow cricketing nations have not been fair to Pakistan and its cricket in recent times. Butt’s prepared statement was read out on ESPNcricinfo and repeatedly telecasted on Pakistani television channels. These thinly-veiled attacks on the ICC, some cricket boards and the media have occurred since the Council launched their investigation against the English players after their suspicious of losing to the Pakistani visiting team.
Meanwhile, the three Pakistani cricketers including test skipper, Salman Butt, and fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir have appealed against their suspension ordered by the ICC, based on the controversial involvement with match-fixers in the recent Test series against England.
Butt say’s, “This is not a conspiracy to defraud bookies but a conspiracy to defraud Pakistan and Pakistan cricket," also adding. "We have taken it in hand to start our own investigations. We will shortly reveal the names of the people, the parties and the bodies involved in this sinister conspiracy and we also reserve the right to sue them for damages. There is loud and clear talk in bookie circles that some English players have taken enormous amounts of money to lose the match [the third ODI]. No wonder there was such a collapse".
When a reporter asked, whether the PCB had any proof to support their allegations on ICC or England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) or any other English player, PCB chairman replied with a question: “ Did you ask the other people who made allegations against our players whether they had any proof or not? What did they say? We have thought about this properly and we have positive proofs here before us just they say they have also”.
On the contrary, ICC spokesperson claims that they tried to contact Butt all through Friday but his phone was not responding. Talking to ESPNcricinfo, ICC officials also stated that once the press release was finished regarding the official investigation on England’s performance at the Oval one-dayer, they came to know about Butt’s meeting with ICC chief executive Haroon Lograt in Dubai.
However, there are no indications regarding the matter that the ICC officials were trying to contact PCB chairman, and to top it all, even the team manager and One-day international (ODI) skipper got to know about the investigation of England’s team through the media and reporters. Keeping in mind, that PCB chairman Butt was in New Delhi, India, trying to meet-up with the President of ICC Sharad Pawar. On the other hand, the ECB held a meeting as soon as the outburst happened, as it gives life to the new match-fixing scandals and has urged ICC for clarification, of the information the Council is holding against them.
Meanwhile, PCB chairperson might well have put the final nail in the coffin towards ICC. PCB during the current chairperson Butt’s tenure has consistently clashed with the ICC. From the 2009 attacks on the Sri Lankan touring team to Pakistan, to the threats from PCB to take legal action on ICC as Pakistan was removed as a venue from the 2011 World Cup due to security concerns on other international boards and the current match-fixing scandals, which has resulted in such harsh exchange of statements between the two.
The PCB ensures that the cricket board itself would lead an investigation to get answers regarding the ongoing spot-fixing scandals. Meanwhile, the ICC is doing its utmost to bring an end to these controversies as it is ruining the spirit of the game. These allegations and scandals can easily help cricket lovers around the world to lose interest in the global game of cricket. It is only time, which will bring out the truth, as cricket experts are hoping that this issue between ICC and PCB is resolved with utmost urgency for the integrity of the game.
However, the current match-fixing allegations on the English team based on their performance against the Pakistani team in the 3rd ODI is under severe scrutiny, as ECB is trying to get the information the ICC is holding against them. All cricket fans and viewers around the world should hope for the best, as the World Cup 2011 is round the corner and this must be the last thing international cricket needs.
Labels: Pakistan
posted @ 12:19 PM,
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