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                        <title>The Express Tribune</title>
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			<title>PCB informs ICC about bookie approach to Sarfraz</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1537486/sarfraz-turns-offer-bookie</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1537486/sarfraz-turns-offer-bookie#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 21 Oct 17 07:57:45 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Nabil Tahir]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan captain turns down offer, reports incident to ACU]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Najam Sethi on Saturday said they have informed International Cricket Council (ICC) about the approach made by a bookie to skipper Sarfraz Ahmed during the ongoing five-match series against Sri Lanka.

Sethi, in a tweet on Saturday, said: “A player was approached. As per rules, he immediately reported to the PCB who informed the ICC. Matters are jointly in hand. No further comment.”

A source close to the team told The Express Tribune that Sarfraz was approached by a bookie, who made a spot-fixing offer to him after the first ODI.

The captain, who led his team to a 4-0 victory on Friday against the Islanders, turned down the offer and reported the approach to PCB’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU).

"The captain was approached by the bookie, who is believed to be of Pakistani origin. The incident happened after the first ODI, but Sarfraz turned them down by reporting the incident to PCB’s ACU immediately," said the source. "Sarfraz was approached while he was out with his family on an off day after the first ODI, and on his return to the hotel he reported the incident to the ACU officials.”

The source added that when the bookie approached him, Sarfraz thought he was a fan requesting for a picture, but the man made a spot-fixing offer to Sarfraz who turned it down on the spot and reported the approach to PCB’s security officials staying with the team and to the Director Security Colonel Azam in Lahore.

Following the incident, the team officials have tightened up the security measures and issued fresh instructions to the squad to stay away from irrelevant people and have also restored curfew timings for the players.

Earlier, Pakistan Super League franchise Islamabad United’s batsmen Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif were banned for five-years each for being a part of the spot-fixing scandal during the second edition.

Towering left-arm pacer Mohammad Irfan was also banned for six months for not reporting an approach made by a bookie during the same event.]]>
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			<title>Former footballers jailed for match-fixing in Norway</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1327884/former-footballers-jailed-match-fixing-norway</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1327884/former-footballers-jailed-match-fixing-norway#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 15 Feb 17 14:32:48 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[afp]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Goalkeeper Drin Shala, striker Alban Shipshani were nabbed with their punter partner]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[A Norwegian appeals court on Wednesday sentenced two former football players and a punter to prison in a match-fixing case involving two third division teams.

The case dates back to two matches in June, 2012. In the first game, Follo lost 4-3 to Ostsiden having led 3-0 with just 25 minutes to go. In the second game, Asker lost 7-1 to Frigg Oslo despite being favourites to win.

Following a complaint from the Norwegian Football Association, police investigated a series of major bets placed on the two matches.
PSL match-fixing scandal: NA panel irked by bookies’ incursions
An Oslo appeals court sentenced Drin Shala, the former Follo goalkeeper, and Alban Shipshani, a Swedish former striker for Asker, to 14 months in prison for aggravated corruption and fraud.

The sentence is heavier than an initial eight-month sanction handed down by a lower court in April 2015.

Swedish punter Luptjo Korunovski was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for the same offences — a year more than the lower court's initial verdict.
My son did nothing wrong, claims Sharjeel’s father
The judges also ordered the confiscation of Korunovski's winnings totalling €38,000.

The Oslo appeals court acquitted four other people, including a former Follo player convicted in 2015.]]>
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			<title>Spot-fixing charges: SHC seeks Danish Kaneria's bank account details</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1074439/spot-fixing-charges-shc-seeks-danish-kanerias-bank-account-details</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1074439/spot-fixing-charges-shc-seeks-danish-kanerias-bank-account-details#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 28 Mar 16 16:52:59 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=1074439</guid>
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				<![CDATA[England and Wales Cricket Board requests SHC to help in recovering £249,000 fine imposed on the leg-spinner since]]>
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				<![CDATA[Following a request from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the Sindh High Court (SHC) called on Monday for former Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria’s bank statement in connection with fines imposed on him for spot-fixing charges.

The ECB is seeking attachment of the 35-year-old’s property valuations to recover the £249,000 fine imposed on him.

The bench, headed by Justice Muhammad Junaid Ghaffar, directed Habib Bank Limited (HBL), Clifton Branch officials to submit details by the next hearing.

Kaneria's alleged partner in crime makes comeback

The ECB had approached the court in August last year, seeking help for recovery of fines and costs levelled against Kaneria.

A disciplinary panel of the English cricket board had banned Kaneria in June 2012 after he was found guilty of corruption while playing for Essex in a limited-overs match in 2009 and imposed a fine of £100,000 on the cricketer.

He lost his second and final appeal against the penalty in August 2014.

The board requested the court to order Kaneria pay the fine and additional costs incurred over the course of the case.

Kaneria's life ban: I am being mistreated because I am Hindu

Kaneria is one of Pakistan’s most prolific leg-spinners with 261 wickets in 61 Test matches.

He is also only the second-ever Hindu to play for Pakistan at the highest level – first was his cousin Anil Dalpat – and was something of a poster-child for the country’s minorities until his ban.]]>
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			<title>Kaneria's alleged partner in crime makes comeback</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1049809/kanerias-alleged-partner-in-crime-makes-comeback</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1049809/kanerias-alleged-partner-in-crime-makes-comeback#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 18 Feb 16 13:22:20 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[afp]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Westfield has been cleared to return to English reserve level and minor counties cricket a year ahead of schedule]]>
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				<![CDATA[Former Essex bowler Mervyn Westfield has been cleared to return to English reserve level and minor counties cricket a year ahead of schedule after serving a ban for corruption, it was announced on Thursday.

The pace bowler was banned from all cricket for five years and sentenced to four months in prison after pleading guilty to a spot-fixing offence in a 2009 one-day fixture against Durham, an incident which later led to a life ban for former Essex and Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria.

Westfield's suspension runs until February 16, 2017 and he cannot play first-class cricket until that date.

But part of a previously all-encompassing ban has been relaxed by England's Cricket Discipline Commission (CDC) in an acknowledgement of the now 27-year-old Westfield's involvement in anti-corruption programmes.

Clearing the air: I never approached BCCI, says Kaneria

"The Cricket Discipline Commission today announced that the former Essex cricketer Mervyn Westfield will be allowed to play Minor Counties and First Class Second XI cricket from the start of this season," said a statement.

Westfield was charged along with Kaneria after accepting £6,000 ($8,619) for agreeing to concede 12 runs from his first over in a county 40 overs per side match in September 2009 -- even though Durham only scored 10 runs.

Kaneria was later given a global life ban from cricket after being found guilty of enticing Westfield into spot-fixing -- a process whereby specific incidents in a match, rather than the result itself, are fixed for underhand financial gain.

Westfield was allowed to return to club cricket two years ago and has played for the Frinton-on-Sea team in Essex for the last two seasons.

Kaneria's life ban: I am being mistreated because I am Hindu

He has also spoken to young players at England's Professional Cricketers Association's pre-season rookie camp and at a recent event in South Africa which tried to educate cricketers on the threat of corruption.

"The CDC Panel ruled that Westfield must continue to serve the remainder of his five-year ban from first-class county cricket because strong deterrent sentences continue to play an important role in the wider fight against corruption in cricket," the CDC statement also said.

However, CDC chairman Gerard Elias added: "The panel concluded that Mr Westfield has made a real and substantial effort in this area which reflects his continuing remorse and a genuine desire on his part to repay cricket for the harm caused by his actions in 2009.

Fixing can be curtailed but not eradicated: Saleem Malik

"In these exceptional circumstances, we shall allow him to participate in minor counties cricket and first-class county second XI cricket from February 17th, 2016.

"However, he will not be able to participate in first-team cricket for any first-class county until his original sentence expires on February 16th, 2017."]]>
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			<title>The return of Butt and Asif — no easy fix</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/946634/the-return-of-butt-and-asif-no-easy-fix</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/946634/the-return-of-butt-and-asif-no-easy-fix#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 28 Aug 15 20:39:56 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Emmad Hameed]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category><category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=946634</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[While Amir seems to attract sympathy, Butt and Asif are perceived as ‘serial offenders’, have scant support]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan cricket has endured more than its due share of controversies, scandals, rebellions and intrigues since the national team first began playing the sport at the highest level. Cricketing greats from the country have had their lofty reputations sullied due to indiscretions of varying degrees but perhaps, nothing has embarrassed the cricket-mad nation more than the damning spot-fixing scandal that shook the game to the core five years ago. In 2010, Lord’s — the sacred home of cricket — witnessed its first spot-fixed Test, with Pakistan’s trio of Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir caught red-handed and serving jail terms a year later.

The ICC handed out tough five-year bans, and the players were asked to meet all the requirements tabled by the tribunal led by Michael Beloff, QC for their rehabilitation. After vehemently denying their involvement in the fix for years, Butt and Asif eventually gave in. The duo made their confessions and in the last 18 months or so, have worked closely with the ICC to ensure that their ‘remedial work’ stayed on track. The players were given a clean chit and a subsequent green signal from the body last week, days before the fifth anniversary of the humiliating affair.

The day the news of the lifting of the ban broke, the Lahore cricket management announced that Butt and Asif are in line to make their comebacks in the National Twenty20 tournament next month, but their return has been put on hold for now. The PCB, which bore a lot of flak for the supposed ‘mishandling’ of the case five years ago, is willing to err on the side of caution for now. The board sought clarification from the ICC on the extent and effect of the ‘clean chit’ given to the players, while an official close to the matter confessed that Pakistani cricket administrators were “caught napping” and want to ensure that all boxes are checked before they allow the duo back.

A stringent rehabilitation programme has been handed over to the trio by the PCB which entails that Butt, Asif and even Amir shouldn’t harbour hopes of donning the Pakistani shirt before at least March 2016. While Amir seems to attract sympathy, Butt and Asif are perceived as ‘serial offenders’, have scant support, and even their lobbyists have kept their cards close to the chest.

Butt had a decent record as an opener at the highest level and an even more successful aggregate at the first class level. The Lahore-born did not give up on his ambitions in the cricket field even during the five-year impasse, and realises that he has to resurrect his shredded reputation. Once back in the fray (domestic cricket), Butt can slowly crawl back into contention with a string of big scores, but his deportation in the middle of his jail term in 2012 means he can’t return to English shores before 2022. The England stalemate and his being the ringmaster in the fix — made to the ICC in his confessional statement — make his case for return to top-flight cricket, weaker than the rest. He would be extremely lucky to wear the national colours again.

Conversely, Asif, we hear, is allowed to play cricket in the UAE despite his 2008 deportation (for carrying opium during travel). The PCB and the UAE authorities had entered into an agreement which allowed him to travel to the Emirates for cricket tours. The announcement was to be made shortly after the Lord’s Test, but was hushed up once the severity of his involvement in the fix was revealed. At his pomp, Asif was a scourge for top-order batsmen. The perfect seam position — delivered courtesy a copy-book wristy action — made him a nightmare for some of the most able batsmen in the world. In addition to his wizardry, the 33-year-old pompously wore the label of the rebel. He remained a freak who never shied away from hogging the headlines for the good, the bad or the ugly. Asif was a once-in-a-generation kind of a bowler, but the baggage he brought with him was also equally unique, and equally tough to shrug off. Can Pakistan afford to bring Asif back? His record in the Test format is a hugely impressive: 106 wickets in only 23 games. On his resume are Test wins against England, Australia, India, Sri Lanka and New Zealand registered both home and away. A few domestic games and that supple wrist in his right arm is likely to wreak havoc again. But how long would Asif exercise restraint before his next misdemeanour? Can he, at long last, shackle the monsters of his mind? It appears that there are no easy answers for now.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29th,  2015.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.]]>
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			<title>Kaneria calls for life-ban review after ICC allows trio to play</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/944690/kaneria-calls-for-life-ban-review-after-icc-allows-trio-to-play</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/944690/kaneria-calls-for-life-ban-review-after-icc-allows-trio-to-play#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 15 00:04:39 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[nabeel.hashmi]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Former leg-spinner rues unjust treatment, yet is happy for Butt, Asif and Amir .]]>
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				<![CDATA[Banned cricketer Danish Kaneria has called for his life ban to be reviewed in wake of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision to allow Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir to return to competitive cricket once their five-year ban ends on September 1, 2015.

Kaneria was given a life ban by the English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in 2012 after being found guilty of corruption for encouraging former Essex teammate Mervyn Westfield to spot-fix in a domestic CB40 match against Durham in 2009.

However, over the years, Kaneria has maintained his innocence, stating he has been made a scapegoat.

The former leg-spinner, who is Pakistan’s most successful Test spinner in history with 261 wickets from 61 matches, feels he has been singled out while other convicted players have been forgiven.

“Convicted players who have been jailed and have sold the country have been given a second chance but the same treatment hasn’t been given to me,” Kaneria told The Express Tribune.

“I’ve been regularly told to accept guilt and show remorse but why should I do that when I haven’t committed any crime. I was cleared by the Essex police but the ECB especially made a panel for me, pressurised the witness [Westfield] and then forced a life ban on me. When convicted players can get a new life, why not me?”

In September 2010, he was cleared by the Essex police without being charged after the affair was investigated for three months.

Kaneria said that he was happy that the likes of Amir, Asif and Butt have been given another chance to redeem themselves in domestic and international cricket and move-on from a dark incident of their lives.

“Cricketers’ bread and butter is only cricket so I’m happy that they will be able to play again and earn for themselves and their families. I just hope that the ICC, ECB and PCB will review my case,” he added.

Meanwhile, former captain Rashid Latif has backed Kaneria and stated that the ICC needs to review its anti-corruption laws because the player has been punished by the ECB based just on a statement and not on concrete evidence.

Latif has closely followed Kaneria’s case and has remained on his side. “The ICC has made laws for those who have committed crimes and show remorse, but what about a player like Kaneria, who hasn’t done anything and yet has been banned,” questioned Latif. “The ICC must revisit its anti-corruptions rules and regulations because Kaneria deserves to play again.”

He also lamented the PCB for maintaining a weak stance against the ECB and the ICC and said that if a similar thing had happened to a player of Australia, India or South Africa, their cricket boards would have taken a firm stand against the unjust treatment.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 26th, 2015.

Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.]]>
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			<title>The return of the trio</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/942408/the-return-of-the-trio</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/942408/the-return-of-the-trio#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 15 22:56:17 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category><category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[In strictly legal sense, there is nothing stopping the three from wearing Pakistan’s jerseys again come September 2]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir will soon find themselves free of all sanctions imposed by the ICC for their role in the 2010 spot-fixing scandal. The trio was banned from all competitive cricket after an ICC tribunal found them guilty of spot-fixing during Pakistan’s tour of England. While Butt was punished with a 10-year ban (five of them suspended), Asif was handed a seven-year one (two suspended), while Amir was given a five-year sanction. Amir was allowed back into domestic cricket earlier this year although the ban on his international appearances remained.

In the strictly legal sense, there is nothing stopping the three from wearing Pakistan’s jerseys again come September 2. The three can feature in domestic tournaments, fine-tune their skills and make themselves contenders for the national team if they show reasonable team spirit, fitness, form and remorse. There has, however, been much debate among fans and players over whether the trio should be welcomed back or not. There are those who feel that while it was the UK court that punished them, it was Pakistan’s name which was tarnished, and there should be no place for the trio in Pakistan cricket. There are also those who argue that people deserve a second chance, especially if the guilty have shown remorse and have been punished. This is perhaps what we should remember — the trio has paid for their crimes and an important aspect of meting out justice is that of rehabilitation, and that aspect must not be ignored here. This does not in any way mean that we forget the circumstances under which the trio committed the misdemeanours. There was absolutely no reason for them to have done what they did, except for their greed and foolishness to think they will get away with it. Also, Butt and Asif persisted in their denials for a long time even after Amir had confessed to his role in the saga at the first given opportunity in the UK court. Perhaps, only time will tell if fans and the cricketing fraternity are ready to forgive the trio.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 22nd, 2015.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.]]>
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			<title>Mohammad Amir’s return</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/830774/mohammad-amirs-return</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/830774/mohammad-amirs-return#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 31 Jan 15 21:06:04 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category><category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[The depth of merit of PCB's decision would only be ascertained when Amir represents Pakistan again]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Fast bowler Mohammad Amir is now set to be reintegrated into the country’s cricket fraternity after more than four years of tumult, pain and disgrace. The ICC made the formal announcement of his return to domestic cricket under “the auspices of PCB” on January 29. Purely in legal terms, Amir deserves to return after having paid his debt to society by admitting to his wrongdoing in the 2010 spot-fixing scandal, enduring punishment for his role in it by serving a prison sentence and also by serving his ban from all forms of cricket, as well as contributing to anti-corruption activities. He will restart his career, first at the domestic level and if he continues to progress in the right direction, we may see the talented fast bowler donning Pakistan colours again.

But difficult times may lie ahead for Amir. He might have served his sentence, however, the damage his actions caused to Pakistan and the reputation of the game cannot be quantified. At present, the PCB is basking in the glory of successfully pleading the youngster’s case at the highest level but the depth of the merit of their decision would only be ascertained when Amir represents Pakistan again.

Media reports suggest that many of the current national players, especially the ones who were subjected to unparalleled humiliation when the scandal broke out merely for being part of the squad in England in 2010, are perturbed, rather incensed, at Amir’s return. The PCB needs to dig deep and counsel both the players and Amir on this count if it indeed harbours hopes of the return of the fast bowler to top level cricket. What is also worth pondering over is the reaction of crowds around the world when Amir takes the field. While many players with tainted reputations have enjoyed long careers with various teams, no scandal has ever been as deeply scathing as the 2010 spot-fixing saga was. Amir is in a unique situation: while he may deserve a second chance, is the average cricket fan and the cricketing fraternity at large ready to accept him again? Only time will tell.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1st, 2015.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.]]>
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			<title>Cricket: Sreesanth, 38 others charged over IPL fixing</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/584066/cricket-sreesanth-38-others-charged-over-ipl-fixing</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/584066/cricket-sreesanth-38-others-charged-over-ipl-fixing#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 30 Jul 13 15:57:30 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[afp]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Charges include criminal conspiracy, cheating and dishonesty.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Indian bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and 38 others were charged on Tuesday over a spot-fixing scandal in the Indian Premier League that has rocked the sport, a prosecutor said.

Indian prosecutors filed charges in a New Delhi court against the 39 alleging links to organised crime during this year's edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), a Twenty20 competition.

"The players and others have also been charged with criminal conspiracy, cheating and dishonesty," special public prosecutor Rajesh Mohan told AFP.

Two of Sreesanth's teammates from the Rajasthan Royals franchise, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan, were also charged along with bookmakers and underworld figures.

They were charged under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, Mohan said.

The three players were arrested in May along with scores of bookies as part of a police investigation into the spot-fixing scandal, which has caused outrage among fans in the cricket-mad nation.

India's cricket officials launched their own investigation into a separate betting scandal in the IPL, which prompted the country's cricket chief N. Srinivasan to step aside last month pending the outcome of the probe.

In a further twist to the scandal, the Bombay High Court on Tuesday ruled that the probe itself had been illegal, throwing into question the return of Srinivasan.

He stepped aside temporarily as president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) after his son-in-law was arrested, and later released on bail, over alleged links to illegal bookmakers.

Son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan is one of the owners of IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings, a team bought by Srinivasan's India Cements conglomerate when the league was launched in 2008.

The probe's report, leaked to the media on Sunday, found no wrongdoing by senior cricket officials or IPL owners over the scandal, apparently paving the way then for Srinivasan's return.

Gambling is mostly illegal in India, but betting on cricket matches thrives through networks of underground bookies.

Spot-fixing, in which a specific part of a game but not the result is fixed, is also illegal.

Sreesanth, who is the most famous of the three cricketers arrested, having played 27 Tests for India, is alleged to have been paid tens of thousands of dollars after agreeing with bookies to deliberately bowl badly in an IPL match in May.

Police also alleged at the time of their arrest that his teammates agreed to similar deals in two other IPL matches.

All three players have denied wrongdoing.

Rahul Dravid, a former Indian captain and current skipper of the Rajasthan Royals, has been named as a prosecution witness in the case, according to the Press Trust of India.

Delhi police told the trial court on Tuesday that the accused were "part of a larger betting syndicate" controlled by underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and his aide Chhota Shakeel, Mohan said.

The underworld figures were also named as accused in the charge sheet, which includes details of taped telephone calls and runs to 6,000-pages long, PTI said.

Dawood, an Indian national thought to be living in Pakistan, has been accused by Indian authorities of crimes including the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts.

The accused cricketers "knowingly abetted the operation of this international organised crime syndicate", according to the police.]]>
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			<title>‘Srinivasan cleared in IPL spot-fixing scandal’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/583647/srinivasan-cleared-in-ipl-spot-fixing-scandal</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/583647/srinivasan-cleared-in-ipl-spot-fixing-scandal#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 29 Jul 13 19:11:09 +0500</pubDate>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Source says BCCI chief reinstated after internal probe finds no wrong-doing.]]>
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				<![CDATA[A probe ordered by India’s cricket chiefs into a betting scandal in the Indian Premier League has found no wrong-doing, allowing the return of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Narayanaswami Srinivasan, a source told AFP yesterday.

Srinivasan stepped aside temporarily as BCCI president on June 2 after his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan was arrested, and later released on bail, over alleged links to illegal bookmakers.

The probe report, which was submitted to BCCI’s acting chief Jagmohan Dalmiya yesterday, cleared Srinivasan’s India Cements, Rajasthan Royals, Meiyappan and Kundra of spot-fixing allegations, said the source.

“There is nothing in the report to implicate these people,” said the source on condition of anonymity. “I don’t think we can, or have the right, to stop Srinivasan from coming back as president now.”

The report will be placed before the Indian Premier Leagues’s (IPL) governing council in New Delhi on Friday for further action and will be released publicly later on, said Dalmiya on Sunday.

The internal probe is separate from police investigations being carried out by the Delhi and Mumbai police in the IPL scandal, with charges expected to be filed shortly.

Two Rajasthan Royals players – World Cup-winning fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and Ankeet Chavan – are out on bail for their involvement in spot-fixing.

A third player, Ajit Chandila, reported to be the main conduit between the bookmakers and cricketers, is still behind bars.

The probe panel was hampered by the reluctance of Mumbai police to share information with them until charges were framed, said the source.

“We are unsure how much evidence the police has,” he said. “Would a court have granted bail to the players if there was a serious case against them?”

Police allege the players deliberately bowled badly in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars after striking deals with bookmakers.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 30th, 2013.

Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.]]>
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			<title>Muhammad Asif admits to spot-fixing</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/581786/muhammad-asif-admits-to-spot-fixing</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/581786/muhammad-asif-admits-to-spot-fixing#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 25 Jul 13 12:55:03 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
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				<![CDATA[Asif met PCB CEO Sauban Ahmed on Thursday morning and admitted that he had made mistakes in the past.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan fast bowler Muhammad Asif admitted to spot fixing on Thursday, Express News reported.

Asif met officials from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and PCB CEO Sauban Ahmed on Thursday morning and admitted that he had made mistakes in the past.

Asif said that he was willing to cooperate with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and PCB completely. He said that he was ashamed for what he had done and apologised to the entire nation.

Pakistan batsman Salman Butt had also confessed to have been involved in spot fixing.

After Asif, all three Pakistani cricketers alleged to be part of a spot fixing charge by the ICC have confessed to have done so.

The five year ban on Salman Butt and the two year ban on Muhammad Asif will still hold, Express News correspondent Yousuf Anjum reported.

Muhammad Asif, Salman Butt and young pacer Mohammad Amir were banned in early 2011 by the ICC's anti-corruption tribunal for spot-fixing in a 2010 test match against England.]]>
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			<title>Two Sri Lanka umpires banned after TV sting exposes corrupt practices</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/574623/two-sri-lanka-umpires-banned-after-tv-sting-exposes-corrupt-practices</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/574623/two-sri-lanka-umpires-banned-after-tv-sting-exposes-corrupt-practices#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 09 Jul 13 15:30:29 +0500</pubDate>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=574623</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Sagara Gallage and Maurice de la Zilwa banned for 10 and 3 years respectively.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Sri Lanka Cricket banned two umpires on Tuesday for making unfair decisions in return for cash.

The umpires were first charged with spot-fixing in a sting by an Indian TV programme last year. Following a disciplinary hearing over the allegations, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) proclaimed umpires Sagara Gallage and Maurice de la Zilwa banned for 10 and three years respectively, from all forms of the game.

SLC did not reveal details of the hearing or the allegations, but official cricket sources said the disciplinary panel found sufficient evidence to punish them.

A source close to the disciplinary enquiry said that Gallage had declined to participate in the hearing.

"It is clear from the evidence that the two umpires had negotiations with the Indian party (TV sting) and agreed to provide information for monetary benefit," the source said, asking to remain anonymous. "But, neither of them were in a position to provide any information because they were not involved in umpiring any of the first class matches at the time."

A third umpire, Gamini Dissanayake, was demoted to umpiring in a lower domestic league for a period of 1 year, SLC said, after the television network disclosed that it had approached him as well during the sting operation.

Dissanayake – the most high-profile of the three umpires who declared his innocence when the programme was aired in October – has not been directly implicated in any bribery allegations, the source said. However, he was faulted for engaging in conversation with the Indian party who had offered him money in exchange for information about teams and players.

"From the tapes, it is clear that he did not agree to provide information, but he should have stopped the conversation with the Indian party," the source said.

There was no immediate comment from any of the three umpires.

The undercover investigation by the India TV channel allegedly found a total of six umpires (including one on the international panel) who were willing to give biased decisions or provide inside information on teams in exchange for cash payments.

Three of the six named by the TV programme were from Sri Lanka, while two were from Pakistan. The sixth was Nadir Shah, a Bangladeshi member of the International Cricket Council's international panel which officiates in matches around the world.

Shah was banned for 10 years by Bangladesh authorities in March. The video evidence showed a grainy footage of Shah saying he was willing to give decisions on demand. The umpire had stood in 40 one-day and several T20 internationals before being banned.]]>
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			<title>Pakistan endorses Kaneria ban</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/572893/pakistan-endorses-kaneria-ban</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/572893/pakistan-endorses-kaneria-ban#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jul 13 09:02:42 +0500</pubDate>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[PCB says Kaneria will remain banned from all cricket in Pakistan as per ICC rules.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan on Friday endorsed England's decision to uphold the life ban on Danish Kaneria, calling on the leg-spinner to reflect on his conduct and start a process of rehabilitation.

The 32-year-old was banned for his part in a 2009 spot-fixing scandal, in which he lured his Essex team-mate Mervyn Westfield to concede an agreed number of runs in an over in return for money.

An disciplinary committee of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) banned Kaneria for life in June last year. His first appeal was rejected in April.

On Tuesday, an ECB appeal panel rejected his second appeal, which asked for the ban to be reduced.

A disgusted Kaneria accused the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) of not helping him, but the organisation rejected his claim.

"Kaneria was duly represented in the proceedings through a legal counsel of his choice and no question with regard to jurisdiction, composition, procedure or fairness of the appeal panel was raised by Kaneria's counsel," the PCB said.

The ban effectively prevents Kaneria from playing any form of the game anywhere in the world as boards under the International Cricket Council (ICC) have to enforce bans imposed by any country.

The PCB said Kaneria would remain banned from all cricket in Pakistan as per ICC rules.

"Therefore, Kaneria is suspended for life from any involvement in the playing, organisation or administration of cricket in any form or manner under the jurisdiction of PCB," it said.

The body added: "The PCB hopes Kaneria will reflect on his past conduct and will now initiate efforts towards redemption and rehabilitation."

Kaneria took 261 wickets in 61 Tests, the highest by any Pakistani spinner.

Three other Pakistani players - Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer - were banned in 2011 after being found guilty of spot-fixing in a Test in England in 2010.

Butt and Aamer have confessed and are due to start rehabilitation under PCB guidance.

The PCB last week asked the ICC to look into the possibility of reducing Aamer's five-year ban.]]>
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			<title>ICC meeting: Some people tried to get Pakistan suspended, says Sethi</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/571740/icc-meeting-some-people-tried-to-get-pakistan-suspended-claims-sethi</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/571740/icc-meeting-some-people-tried-to-get-pakistan-suspended-claims-sethi#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 02 Jul 13 22:29:12 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[PCB chief says ICC has agreed to form sub-committee to review anti-corruption laws, board to hire lawyer for Amir.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Returning home after attending the International Cricket Council meeting in London, Pakistan Cricket Board acting chairman Najam Sethi verified rumours that there had been efforts to get Pakistan’s membership suspended, Express News reported.

Landing in Lahore early on Wednesday, Sethi desisted from taking any names but said that some people, including former board officials had attempted to get Pakistan suspended.

“But when they [ICC officials] met us, they supported us and the new [board] constitution.”

Sethi said that he did not want to get into a blame game, but will instead sit with the concerned people and talk the matter out.

No international matches

The acting chairman said that while decisions regarding international matches had been taken in the previous ICC meeting, the current security situation in Pakistan had almost ruled out any prospect of international cricket returning to home soil any time soon.

“After Sri Lanka, attack, no team wants to come to play here, not even Bangladesh. Maximum we can do is ask them (ICC) to review after a year. But they demand assurances and demonstrable progress.”

Lawyer for Amir

Sethi said that after much pleading the ICC had agreed to form a sub-committee to look at the anti-corruption laws and see how, after the five year sentence ends, can Mohammad Amir play test cricket again.

Sethi claimed that the review was a big win and that now he and his colleagues had decided to hire a British lawyer for Amir.

“We will hire a white lawyer in UK, since they react to our skin colour, to look at the anti-corruption laws and look at ways to get at least 20% relief for Amir.”

On a question about Salman Butt, Sethi said that while Amir had repented and sought rehabilitation, Butt on the other hand had gone to every court, and it was only after he had been turned away that he admitted his guilt.

Sethi said that England cricket board and county chief Giles Clark said that “they were ready to listen but Salman Butt, Kaneria are not admitting their guilt.”Butt did not admit his mistake at any stage and has only now come out with it.

Unofficial tours

Unable to secure a home series, Sethi said that informal talks with the West Indies board chairman and the England board chief, they were working on bringing an unofficial team to play in Pakistan.

“Pakistan cricket is at the lowest rung, we are not winning, cricketers are cheating, no one wants to play here, things were never this bad.”

Sethi said that India dominates the ICC board, in part due to the IPL and the massive money it brings for players of different countries. “India does not have to plead its case, other nations now plead India's case for it.”

The PCB chairman added that he was informally communicated that if he wanted anything done, it would be better to try luck in New Delhi and get the prime minister to mend ties with India.

Court trouble

Talking about a petition in the court against his appointment, Sethi said that he was just an acting chairman and with his new show due to start on Friday July 5, 2013, he would like nothing better than to go back to his old life.

“But then who will take care of the team selection for the upcoming tours of West Indies and Zimbabwe?”
The PCB acting chairman said that there was no use in pushing petitions, rather problems should be solved together.  He added that if a chairman had been appointed by the prime minister on the orders of the court and that he had also been accepted by the ICC, he should be allowed to continue.

“If the courts now start appointing [chairmen], I want the court to appoint a chairman. And if the team then loses, then the judge who appoints him, it will be his responsibility to explain.”

Team selection

Sethi said that he had had no time to tinker with the selection committee, hence the current set up that he inherited will be asked to come up with a team for the upcoming tours.

“I will make the cricketers, coach, selectors sit and tell them to endorse the team. Win or lose, they will then be responsible.”]]>
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			<title>Butt’s admission of guilt</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/570114/butts-admission-of-guilt</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/570114/butts-admission-of-guilt#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 29 Jun 13 19:24:38 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
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				<![CDATA[After using up all cards in the deck, former opener is now looking to take opportunity of a new chairman at the helm.]]>
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				<![CDATA[After vehemently denying his involvement, disgraced Pakistan cricketer and former captain Salman Butt admitted to and apologised for his role in the spot-fixing scandal that brought much shame to the country. Two years after the International Cricket Council (ICC) found him, as well as fast-bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir guilty of taking money in exchange for deliberately contriving no-balls during the fourth Test against England, during the 2010 tour of the country, Butt was “apologetic” for the pain he caused to fans and the country. He was banned from all cricketing activity for at least five years and also put behind bars in the UK.

Butt’s admission of guilt comes after he has done time in jail, appealed to the ICC, as well as to the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport, only for his appeals to be dismissed each time. Only last year, after being released from jail and returning to the country, he insisted that he was innocent. However, delving deeper into his statement, given on June 28, we clearly get the impression that after using up all the cards in the deck, the former opener is now looking to take the opportunity of a new chairman at the helm, namely Najam Sethi, and find a way that would enable him to make his comeback. Mr Sethi recently stated that he would make a plea to the ICC to reduce the duration of Amir’s ban. This statement seems to have alerted Butt and he appears to now look to earn a similar favour through a manipulative, apologetic press conference.

Is this what our country has been reduced to? Do the supporters of the national team want to give a chance to a corrupt player, who not only committed corruption himself but also led one of the brightest stars in Pakistan cricket on the same dreaded path? His manipulation aside, Butt, the “orchestrator” of the spot-fixing saga, needs to spend time off the field and made to regret his actions — actions that let down the fans and the country after raising their hopes when he was made captain.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 30th, 2013.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.]]>
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			<title>Spot fixing scandal: Salman Butt confesses to crime, apologises</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/569601/spot-fixing-scandal-salman-butt-confesses-to-crime-apologises</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/569601/spot-fixing-scandal-salman-butt-confesses-to-crime-apologises#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 28 Jun 13 12:58:47 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=569601</guid>
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				<![CDATA[Requests PCB acting Chairman Najam Sethi to reduce his suspension sentence.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Cricketer Salman Butt confessed to his crimes on Friday, Express News reported.

He also apologised to his fans for hurting their sentiments and requested the PCB acting Chairman Najam Sethi to reduce his sentence.

“Two more years are left before the ban is lifted, please allow me to at least play domestic cricket,” he requested Sethi.

Butt had received a 10-year ban, five years of which were suspended, following a probe of the deliberate bowling of no balls at a Test match in London in 2010.

The cricketer was found guilty by both the game’s governing body and a British court of receiving money.]]>
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			<title>Spot-fixing: Appeals court closes another door on Asif</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/562250/spot-fixing-appeals-court-closes-another-door-on-asif</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/562250/spot-fixing-appeals-court-closes-another-door-on-asif#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 12 Jun 13 13:38:52 +0500</pubDate>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Asif has already lost his appeal against the ICC bans at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).]]>
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				<![CDATA[Three Court of Appeal judges in London on Wednesday rejected an appeal by cricketer Mohammad Asif against his conviction for spot-fixing.

In their ruling, the judges said they were "not persuaded that there are any grounds, arguable or otherwise, for attacking the safety of the convictions of this applicant (Asif)".

"The renewed applications are accordingly dismissed," they added.

Fast bowler Asif, 30, was released from jail in May last year after serving half of a 12-month sentence for his part in a plot to bowl deliberate no-balls in a Test match against England at Lord's in 2010.

Former captain Salman Butt was jailed for 30 months, while promising young bowler Mohammad Aamir was detained for six months in a young offenders' institution.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) governing body also banned the trio from cricket for five years.

Asif and Butt both challenged the ICC bans at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) but the Lausanne-based body in April rejected their appeals.

The spot-fixing plot, which was uncovered by the now-defunct News of the World newspaper, was one of the biggest scandals to hit cricket in years and also led to the conviction of their London-based agent.

The Court of Appeal rejected challenges by Butt and Aamir against their sentences in November 2011.

In his ruling Lord Chief Justice Igor Judge, the head of the judiciary in England and Wales, said the players had "betrayed the country which they had the honour to represent and betrayed the sport that had given them their distinction - and of course betrayed all the very many followers of the game throughout the world".]]>
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			<title>I always played the game with heart and soul: Sreesanth</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/561861/i-always-played-the-game-with-heart-and-soul-sreesanth</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/561861/i-always-played-the-game-with-heart-and-soul-sreesanth#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 11 Jun 13 16:37:52 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Says he will abide by the law of the land.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Indian international fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth was released from Tihar jail on bail on Tuesday, Press Trust of India reported.

"I don't want to forget about this episode," Press Trust of India quoted Sreesanth as saying.

He said it has taught him a lot of things.

"I totally believe in India's judiciary system and I will surely abide by the law of land," said Sreesanth after his release on bail, Press Trust of India reported.

He however defended himself, claiming he always played the game in its true spirit and with heart and soul.

The test cricketer was arrested by Delhi police in Mumbai along with fellow bowlers Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila on charges of spot-fixing in the Indian Premier League Twenty20 competition last month.

Sreesanth, who played the last of his 27 Tests against England two years ago, is no stranger to controversy, and was famously slapped by his teammate Harbhajan Singh during a match in 2008.]]>
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			<title>Cricket: IPL team owner suspended amid clean-up</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/561374/cricket-ipl-team-owner-suspended-amid-clean-up</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/561374/cricket-ipl-team-owner-suspended-amid-clean-up#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 10 Jun 13 14:56:09 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[BCCI suspends Rajasthan Royals co-owner Raj Kundra as Sreesanth and Chavan granted bail.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Cricket officials on Monday suspended the co-owner of an Indian Premier League (IPL) team and announced plans for a major clean-up of the sport after an illegal betting and spot-fixing scandal.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) held an emergency meeting in New Delhi into the Rajasthan Royals IPL franchise and its co-owner Raj Kundra amid the ongoing scandal.

"Mr Raj Kundra has been suspended, pending an inquiry, from all cricketing activities," BCCI interim head Jagmohan Dalmiya told reporters after the meeting.

Kundra, the businessman husband of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, has admitted illegally betting on his own team, according to police.

Three Royals players, including Test fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, and numerous bookmakers have been arrested over allegations of spot-fixing during the recently-completed edition of the IPL.

After Monday's meeting Dalmiya released a blueprint called "Operation Clean-up" aimed at stamping out "sleaze" and corruption in the multi-billion dollar Twenty20 tournament.

Under the plan, IPL players, team owners and support staff face a "strict code of conduct". Owners' movements in team dugouts and dressing rooms during matches will be restricted.

"Removal of sleaze; no cheerleaders, no after-match parties for players and support staff," the 12-point plan reads.

Cellphone towers will be jammed during IPL matches, and players will have to "disclose all financial transactions they are carrying out with any particular organisation or person".

A timetable for implementing the plan, which also includes a ban on players using microphones and earplugs during matches, was unclear.

"If we are able to clean it, it will be a great service to the game," Dalmiya said.

Sreesanth, along with his teammates Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan, were arrested last month over allegations they deliberately bowled badly in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars during IPL matches.

Police say the trio were acting under orders from international crime syndicates to give away a specific number of runs in certain overs after striking deals with bookmakers.

The players have denied wrongdoing.

The BCCI suspended Kundra pending an internal inquiry after the businessman was interviewed at length last week by senior police over illegal betting.

Kundra, who owns 11.7 per cent of the franchise, said he was shocked by the suspension, saying "accusations were made against me without proof, by people in powerful positions".

"I am shocked and upset at the unilateral decision taken today by the BCCI and will fight the grounds of suspension," he said in a statement.

The internal inquiry is already probing Gurunath Meiyappan, the son-in-law of India's cricket chief, who is part of the management of another IPL team called the Chennai Super Kings.

Meiyappan was arrested last month over accusations that he also bet on IPL matches. His arrest forced the cricket chief, N Srinivasan, to step aside pending the outcome of the inquiry.

According to an agreement between the BCCI and IPL sides, if any franchise group or owner acts in a way which has a "material adverse effect" on the reputation of the BCCI or the league, then their agreement will be terminated.

The Rajasthan Royals, who won the inaugural IPL edition in 2008 under Australian spin legend Shane Warne, have previously been thrown out of the IPL because of ownership problems.

Sreesanth and Chavan granted bail

In another development, Royals cricketers Sreesanth and Chavan were granted bail by a Delhi court in the IPL spot-fixing case, according to a tweet from the Press Trust of India (PTI) on Monday.

https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/344095043423969283

The following tweet stated that the court also granted bail to 17 others accused, including 14 bookies, in the case.]]>
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			<title>Spot-fixing juggernaut claims another victim as IPL chairman resigns</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/557460/spot-fixing-juggernaut-claims-another-victim-as-ipl-chairman-resigns</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/557460/spot-fixing-juggernaut-claims-another-victim-as-ipl-chairman-resigns#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 01 Jun 13 13:43:21 +0500</pubDate>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Shukla has been under pressure to resign ever since the spot-fixing scandal came to light in mid-May.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The beleaguered president of Indian premier league, Rajiv Shukla resigned on Saturday, a day after two top cricketing officials quit over an escalating spot-fixing scandal, Express News reported.

Board joint secretary Sanjay Jagdale and treasurer Ajay Shirke had submitted their resignations to the president on Friday. Press Trust of India reported that Srinivasan took into account the resignations of his colleagues before submitting his own resignation.

Their resignations which threw the running of the cricket body into fresh turmoil were front-page news in Indian newspapers with leading daily, The Times of India, declaring in a headline "Game All But Over for Srinivasan".

On Friday evening, the isolated BCCI chief ruled out his resignation.

Srinivasan has been pushed to step down after his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan was arrested last week for allegedly betting on Indian Premier League (IPL) matches.

Meiyappan, an executive at the Chennai Super Kings IPL team which is owned by Srinivasan's business empire India Cements, is being probed by a three-member BCCI commission.

Arun Jaitley, vice president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), hinted to reporters in New Delhi that a shakeup was in the offing for the world's richest cricket body in the next 24 hours.

"You'll hear something significant today (Saturday)," Jaitley said when asked by journalists to comment on media reports that all five BCCI vice presidents, including himself, were ready to resign if Srinivasan refused to quit.

Jaitley did not elaborate.

The resignation of the BCCI secretary and treasurer came just six days after the BCCI boss insisted he had the board's unanimous support.

Indian news channel NDTV, quoting unnamed sources, reported that the BCCI vice-presidents  were piling pressure on the under-fire board president to quit.

"Either you go or we go," the television station quoted the five BCCI vice-presidents as telling their boss.

The arrest of Srinivasan's son-in-law came after Test paceman Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and two teammates in the Rajasthan Royals -- Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila -- were also taken into custody.

All the accused deny any wrongdoing.

The players are in jail in New Delhi after police accused them of deliberately bowling badly in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars after striking deals with bookmakers.

Srinivasan, who was elected as the BCCI president in 2011, can only be removed if two-thirds of the board's members vote against him.

BCCI Joint Secretary Anurag Thakur said Friday that he had sought a special general meeting of the board, where he and other members could "speak their minds".

Former BCCI treasurer Shirke was quoted by the Times of India as saying after his resignation that the BCCI "board's credibility comes before anything else. I can't work with anyone who can't see the writing on the wall".]]>
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			<title>Afridi says he cannot understand why cricketers turn to corruption</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/557045/afridi-says-he-cannot-understand-why-cricketers-turn-to-corruption</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/557045/afridi-says-he-cannot-understand-why-cricketers-turn-to-corruption#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 31 May 13 15:25:12 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[press.trust.of.india]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Shahid Afridi says cricketers can make good money honestly.]]>
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				<![CDATA[With corruption permeating through the different stratas of cricket in Pakistan, and most recently surfacing in India, one player who has had a long but unblemished career has expressed surprise at the prevalence of the practice.

“It’s beyond me why players have to resort to corruption when they can earn good money by playing cricket honestly,” said all-rounder Shahid Afridi said in a statement on Friday.

“Cricketers can earn much through fair means because there are so many T20 leagues which pay good money to players.”

Afridi has had a long and profitable career while remaining on the right side of the law. The cricketer has enjoyed lucrative cricketing contracts and sponsorship deals. He is a popular face on many products, especially in Pakistan. In addition to his sponsorship deals, he owns a popular apparel line that sells under his own name.]]>
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			<title>Cricket: Tendulkar calls spot-fix scandal 'shocking'</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/557022/cricket-tendulkar-calls-spot-fix-scandal-shocking</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/557022/cricket-tendulkar-calls-spot-fix-scandal-shocking#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 31 May 13 14:50:29 +0500</pubDate>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Former master-blaster urges authorities to take sincere steps to et to the root of the issue.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Batting superstar Sachin Tendulkar on Friday called Indian cricket's betting and spot-fixing scandal "shocking and disappointing", becoming country’s first big-name player to speak out on the issue.

"The developments in the last two weeks have been shocking and disappointing," Tendulkar, the world's leading scorer in both Test and one-day cricket, said in a statement.

"It has always hurt me when the game of cricket is in the news for the wrong reasons.

"As cricketers we are always taught to go out, fight hard, give our very best and play in the true spirit of the game."

Indian cricket has been in turmoil after police arrested three players, including Test paceman Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, accusing them of deliberately bowling badly in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars during the just-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL).

N. Srinivasan, president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, is also under pressure to quit after his son-in-law was arrested for allegedly betting on IPL matches.

Betting on sports other than horse-racing is a crime in India. Spot-fixing is an illegal activity in which a specific part of a game, but not the result, is fixed.

"During this difficult phase, I join every cricketer, from the boys and girls in the maidans (grounds) across the country to those who represent clubs, states and the country, who trust the authorities to take sincere steps to get to the root of the issue," said Tendulkar, 40.

"The faith reposed by the millions of fans should be justified and we owe it to them to ensure that Indian cricket is all about pride and joy."

Tendulkar, who figured in all six editions of the IPL, announced his retirement from the Twenty20 tournament after his team won the title on Sunday.

His comments come after India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni declined during several press conferences this week to comment on the ongoing corruption probe.

Speaking ahead of India's bid for the Champions Trophy, Dhoni promised to reveal his views on the scandal at the "right time".

Tendulkar has scored 15,837 runs in 198 Tests with 51 centuries and 18,426 runs in 463 one-day internationals with 49 hundreds.

The master batsman, who quit one-dayers last year, has played just one T20 international for India, against South Africa at Johannesburg in December 2006.]]>
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			<title>Aiming at the stumps: Paceman to turn witness in IPL spot-fixing case</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/557018/aiming-at-the-stumps-paceman-to-turn-witness-in-ipl-spot-fixing-case</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/557018/aiming-at-the-stumps-paceman-to-turn-witness-in-ipl-spot-fixing-case#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 31 May 13 14:38:32 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Paceman Siddharth Trivedi's statement will be admissible in court as evidence against some of the bookies.]]>
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				<![CDATA[One of the bowlers implicated in a spot-fixing scandal that has rocked the Indian Twenty20 franchise, has decided to become a state witness and provide evidence against against his teammates, an officer said on Friday.

Paceman Siddharth Trivedi has recorded testimony for police who are trying to link bookmakers to three of his teammates arrested as part of the corruption probe into the Indian Premier League (IPL), the unnamed officer said.

"His statement is important because he has told us he has information on some of the bookies arrested by us," a police officer, who is part of the investigating team, told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Test paceman Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and uncapped spinners Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila were arrested on May 16 over allegations they deliberately underperformed in specific overs in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars from bookies betting on matches in the just concluded Twenty20 competition.

Scores of bookmakers have also been arrested.

"Trivedi's statements will be admissible as evidence in the court. It will definitely make our case stronger," the Special Cell officer told AFP.

All three players from the Rajasthan Royals team have denied wrongdoing.

Sreesanth, who has played 27 Tests for India, is alleged to have been paid four million rupees ($72,000) to give away around 14 runs in an over while playing against the Kings XI Punjab on May 9.

Chandila and Chavan are said to have agreed to similar deals in two other IPL matches.

Spot-fixing is an illegal activity in which a specific part of a game, but not the result, is fixed.

Local media reports on Friday said uncapped Trivedi, who also plays for the Rajasthan Royals, had turned down an invitation by Chandila to attend a party allegedly arranged by bookies.

"He had also refused money and gifts offered by the bookies," the Press Trust of India news agency said.]]>
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			<title>Umpire Asad Rauf will fight to clear name: Family</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/554249/umpire-asad-rauf-will-fight-to-clear-name-family</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/554249/umpire-asad-rauf-will-fight-to-clear-name-family#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 25 May 13 09:42:47 +0500</pubDate>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Family source says Rauf had nothing to hide, he reached Lahore after completing his matches in the league.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Troubled Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf will fight to clear his name in an ongoing spot-fixing scandal in India, family sources told AFP on Saturday, saying he had returned to his home in Lahore.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) this week withdrew the 57-year-old umpire from next month's Champions Trophy in England in the wake of media reports that he was under police investigation.

Mumbai police on Friday refused to confirm whether Rauf would be called in for questioning, as media outlets in India and Pakistan tried to track the umpire down.

The scandal broke last week when Delhi police arrested three cricketers, accusing them of deliberately bowling badly in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars during the ongoing Twenty20 league in India.

Rauf's family said he returned to his home in Lahore a few days ago.

"Rauf has nothing to hide, he reached Lahore after completing his matches in the league (in India)," a family source told AFP without elaborating.

The ICC has said it felt it was in "Asad's best interests as well as those of the sport and the event itself" for him to no longer participate in the Champions Trophy.

Rauf, who has overseen 48 Tests and 98 one-day internationals, was one of the umpires during the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the centre of the corruption probe.

Family sources said the umpire will fight to clear his name.

"Rauf is disappointed that he was not given a chance to clear his name and was excluded from the Champions Trophy but once his name is cleared he will resume his career in the game he loves," said the source.

"Rauf is bound by the ICC code so at an appropriate time he will speak."

Pakistan Cricket Board has distanced itself from Rauf's case, saying the event was held in India and Rauf was officiating as an ICC umpire.

But PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf confirmed action would be taken against the umpire if the ICC asks for any such step.]]>
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			<title>IPL and the degradation of cricket</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/553886/ipl-and-the-degradation-of-cricket</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/553886/ipl-and-the-degradation-of-cricket#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 24 May 13 18:00:23 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[seema.mustafa]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category><category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[IPL is no longer just cricket; it was entertainment with Bollywood stars, music, drugs, parties all rolled into one.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The hullabaloo raised over the Indian Premier League (IPL) scandal is to be expected, but certain questions raised by cricket buffs ever since cricket was twisted into these high voltage Twenty20 games remain unanswered. Each day, new names and new links of the sleaze underlying the IPL teams, the individuals and the game itself, are revealed as television anchors churn out a slew of exclamation marks, almost hysterical at every revelation. The latest link connects the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to the sleaze, which are sufficient to make the exclamation marks jump up and down on television screens.

There was something wrong when ‘privatisation’ hit cricket to the point where cricketers were sold to the highest bidders and persons with little knowledge, or for that matter, even interest in cricket, made mind-blowing bids for cricket teams and emerged as their proud owners. In fact, the owners — many being movie stars and celebrities in their own right — dominated the sport, with several younger and relatively new cricketers being pushed to the sidelines insofar as the world of publicity was concerned. The media could not get over the list of celebrities that had taken over the sport and the IPL soon became a household name with sports lovers, giving way to Bollywood fans. In fact, to the casual observer, there was less of cricket and more of women, money, fashion and parties and all the rest that goes with it.

The cricketers were introduced to a new lifestyle that clearly took them to levels they did not know existed. Most of them from humble backgrounds took to the IPL and what it stood for like pigeons to water and all would have been well except that proximity to money fuelled at least two of those seven deadly sins: greed and lust. And here we are, with daily stories about the antics of those supposedly playing cricket, our noses wrinkled up in disdain, our eyebrows raised in dismay, our voices laced with disbelief: “how can they do this, how can they sell us and our country out”. We all act as if we had not heard it before, but just after the spot-fixing story broke, this columnist pulled out past clippings of news surrounding the IPL and it was all there. Women, money, parties, politics, nastiness, along with fixing matches for a sum that has hit the IPL a little harder this time around. In other words, the soup was being cooked, only the last ingredient has now been added. And this was so potent that the pressure cooker has burst, staining all those involved in the league.

Memory is short, but new records are being set today with many having conveniently forgotten that the BCCI had taken control of the IPL in India. Big ticket deals were struck, money started pouring in with the BCCI worthies too star and money-struck to restore some level of decorum and decency. All the names associated with the cricketing world would make sad comments about rave parties, or sexual escapades, knowing fully well that they would do nothing to check the dirt that had attached itself to the IPL.

The financiers and the ruthless bookies played the cricketers like a song. Cricket was dressed up to resemble a Bollywood set with the players being treated as successful actors. The IPL was no longer just cricket; it was entertainment with Bollywood stars, models, music, drugs, parties all rolled into one. And no one, repeat no one, seemed to want to do anything about this.

Serious cricketers, long retired, were critical as were many sports writers. But such is the atmosphere of wealth in Delhi, that they were dismissed by the majority — including media houses as their owners/editors were part of the select glittering classes — as being too cynical, or just losers who were critical because they could not get the spoils. The result is that good advice from cricket commentators were ignored and those who dared agree with them dubbed ‘old-fashioned’. The sport is evolving, was the argument, and people have the patience only to sit through the IPL’sTwenty20s.

The crassness surrounding the IPL has finally exploded, and at the moment, everyone is rushing for cover. The Delhi police claims that it has uncovered only part of the grime and this has certainly acted as a dampener. It remains to be seen whether the investigation will be fair and free, and whether all involved (including the politicians) will be held accountable. Somehow, in Delhi, investigations die out after the first flush of success and publicity, as vested interests and linkages come into play to ensure that just the tip of the iceberg is revealed. A second round of deals are then struck at levels not visible to the naked eye and the story disappears as suddenly as it had emerged. The media, of course, does not believe in follow-ups, and all in the spotlight today know that it is just a question of hunkering down and waiting for the storm to pass.

This is because there is no interest in ensuring that the system is institutionalised to a point where scamsters are not able to avoid the law. And not just this, that along with the police and legal work, the system is made accountable and a cleansing operation takes place so that such scams do not occur again. The BCCI, which seems to be compromised too, will have to critically examine the IPL, tear down the edifice of glitz and restore cricket as a respectable sport. It is a tall order and it does seem that after its first meeting following the spot-fixing details coming to light, the BCCI does not seem to be particularly interested in taking drastic action to stem the rot. Homilies cannot be a substitute for action, and at the moment, there seems to be no indication that anyone in authority is actually interested in restoring cricket as a sport and not as a money, women, drugs spinner that it seems to have become.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 25th, 2013.]]>
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			<title>Cricket: Police refuse to confirm they are investigating Asad Rauf</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/553924/cricket-police-refuse-to-confirm-they-are-investigating-asad-rauf</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/553924/cricket-police-refuse-to-confirm-they-are-investigating-asad-rauf#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 24 May 13 16:12:39 +0500</pubDate>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[ICC withdrew Rauf from officiating in upcoming ICC Champions Trophy after reports said he was being investigated.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Police said Friday they were "investigating all the angles" in the Indian spot-fixing scandal but refused to confirm if they were targeting top Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf.

Rauf was withdrawn from next month's Champions Trophy in England amid media reports that he is under police investigation for spot-fixing, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Thursday.

Police in the Indian city of Mumbai would not confirm whether the umpire was being investigated as part of the probe which has led to the arrests of three Indian cricketers, including Test fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, and 11 bookmakers.

A police official said "we are investigating all the angles", adding that Rauf "has not been called in for interrogation".

The ICC said the decision to withdraw Rauf was made after media reports on Wednesday "that the Mumbai police are conducting an investigation" into the umpire's activities.

"We feel that it is in Asad's best interests as well as those of the sport and the event itself, that he is withdrawn from participating in the Champions Trophy," the ICC said in a statement.

"At this stage, the ICC has no further comment to make."

Rauf, who has stood in 48 Tests and 98 one-day internationals, was one of the umpires during the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the centre of the corruption probe.

The withdrawal comes a week after police arrested the three cricketers, accusing them of deliberately bowling badly in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars during the ongoing IPL.

Spot-fixing is an illegal activity where a specific part of a game, but not the outcome, is fixed.

Sreesanth, who has played 27 Tests for India, is alleged to have been paid four million rupees ($72,000) to give away around 14 runs in an over while playing against the Kings XI Punjab on May 9.

His Rajasthan Royals teammates, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila, are said to have agreed to similar deals in two other IPL matches.

The scandal widened when police in Mumbai arrested a Bollywood actor, Vindu Dara Singh Randhawa, earlier this week as part of the probe, which has caused outrage among fans in the cricket-mad nation.]]>
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			<title>Cricket: Despair over spread of spot-fixing 'cancer'</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/551150/cricket-despair-over-spread-of-spot-fixing-cancer</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/551150/cricket-despair-over-spread-of-spot-fixing-cancer#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 18 May 13 14:44:31 +0500</pubDate>
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			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Police who arrested three Indian cricketers for spot-fixing say they were acting under orders from crime bosses.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The arrest of three Indian cricketers for spot-fixing has prompted new fears over the growing influence of betting mafias on the game in the subcontinent and despair about the "cancer" of corruption.

Police behind the arrests say the trio was acting under orders from crime syndicates whose bosses are based in the Gulf but are well aware of the rewards if they can manipulate events on the field throughout the cricket-crazed region.

Commentators meanwhile say administrators from across South Asia have to share some of the blame for the growing list of scandals after failing to ostracise players who have previously been fingered by investigators.

"The spot-fixing cancer has spread far and wide and there is no cure unless authorities take strict action against players," leading cricket historian Boria Majumdar told AFP.

"Cricketers who are found guilty should have nothing to do with the game for the rest of their lives."

The three arrested Thursday, including Indian Test bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, are said to have deliberately bowled badly in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars while playing for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League.

It is the second such scandal to have rocked the tournament in as many years and comes only months after leading umpires from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka were caught in a TV sting being apparently willing to give favourable decisions in exchange for cash during other Twenty20 competitions in the region.

Last year's inaugural edition of the Bangladesh Premier League, another Twenty20 tournament, was also marred by corruption allegations and saw former Bangladeshi international cricketer Shariful Haque being indefinitely banned.

And the biggest cricket corruption scandal of recent years ended up with the jailing of three Pakistani players, including former skipper Salman Butt, for spot-fixing during a Test match against England at Lord's in August 2010.

With the exception of Sri Lanka, betting is illegal in the cricket-playing nations of South Asia but backstreet bookmakers abound, accepting bets for everything from the outcome of matches to the runs scored each over and extras.

Investigators say such an array of bets makes the game particularly vulnerable to manipulation.

"It is a fact that illegal syndicates of bookies and punters are thriving across the subcontinent," one of the investigators behind Thursday's arrests told AFP on condition of anonymity.

"Cricket has become a vehicle for bookies to make pots of money.

"We are still trying to trace the exact flow of the cash but our preliminary investigations show the bookies were operating under instructions of a mafia network based in Dubai", which happens to be the headquarters of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

ICC chief executive Dave Richardson said after Thursday's arrests that the sport's governing body and its members "have collectively taken measures to tighten vigilance... as well as offering strict penalties to those found guilty of illegal conduct".

But commentators point out that some of the sport's biggest names remain very much part of the cricketing fraternity, despite being previously caught up in corruption scandals.

A Pakistani judge had fined bowlers Wasim Akram and Mushtaq Ahmed and recommended that neither be allowed to captain their country after a corruption inquiry a decade ago, but both men have gone on to mentor teams in the IPL.

Legendary Australian cricketer Shane Warne, who accepted cash from bookmakers in return for information about the pitch, captained the Rajasthan Royals to victory in the first edition of the IPL in 2008.

Like Akram, Warne is now a regular television pundit.

Meanwhile the former Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin, who received a life ban for alleged match-fixing, was later elected as a lawmaker for the ruling Congress party. The high court struck down his life ban last year.

Sharda Ugra, senior editor at ESPNcricinfo website, said administrators had missed a chance in the past to send out a clear zero-tolerance signal.

"It is time the administrators show they mean business. The latest corruption scandal is a test case for the authorities," she told AFP.

The litany of scandal has left fans both depressed and outraged, with an effigy of Sreesanth set alight on Thursday night in Bangalore.

"We buy tickets to watch the matches and cheer on the players only to realise that some of them were just puppets in the hands of the bookies," said Ajay Diwan, a fan from New Delhi.]]>
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			<title>Spot-fixing: Kaneria loses appeal against life ban</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/540968/spot-fixing-kaneria-loses-appeal-against-life-ban</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/540968/spot-fixing-kaneria-loses-appeal-against-life-ban#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 26 Apr 13 17:21:03 +0500</pubDate>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Kaneria found guilty of 'pressurising' former Essex team-mate into accepting cash in return for trying for runs.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Controversial Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria failed in his appeal to overturn his lifetime ban from cricket on Friday.

Kaneria was banned last year for his role in a spot-fixing plot, but denied all involvement and immediately indicated his intention to contest the decision.

The 32-year-old was found guilty of "cajoling and pressurising" former Essex team-mate Mervyn Westfield into accepting cash in return for trying to concede a set number of runs in an over during an English county Pro40 match in 2009.

The Pakistan Cricket Board said in July that Kaneria would be suspended from playing in his home country until the outcome of the appeal was known.

Westfield served two months of a four-month prison sentence last year after admitting spot-fixing and was banned from professional cricket for five years.

The 24-year-old was summoned to appear as a witness, against his wishes, at the appeal after the England and Wales Cricket Board obtained a witness summons order from the High Court to force Westfield to attend to give evidence against Kaneria.

During his criminal trial last year, Westfield named Kaneria as the figure who induced him into accepting £6,000 from a bookmaker to under-perform in a match in 2009.

That evidence was key to the ECB's case in imposing their life ban on the former Pakistan leg-spinner but, feeling he was harshly treated in return by the governing body in terms of his own ban, Westfield refused to cooperate further.

With Kaneria's legal team arguing Westfield's original evidence was inadmissible at the appeal, the ECB took the last resort of an order to compel Westfield.

Kaneria's appeal hearing was due to take place last December but was postponed because Westfield did not attend.]]>
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			<title>Banned Butt ready for anti-corruption rehab</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/539867/banned-butt-ready-for-anti-corruption-rehab</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/539867/banned-butt-ready-for-anti-corruption-rehab#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 13 10:52:33 +0500</pubDate>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Salman Butt says he has offered his availability for rehabilitation.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan's former captain Salman Butt said Wednesday he had offered to take part in anti-corruption rehab a week after an international court threw out his appeal against a spot-fixing ban.

The 28-year-old, along with team-mates Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer, was banned for contriving deliberate no-balls for cash during the 2010 Lord's Test against England.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2011 banned Butt for 10 years, with five suspended on the condition that he commits no further offences and takes part in a programme of anti-corruption education.

Asif received a seven year ban with two suspended while Aamer got five years.

The trio and their agent Mazhar Majeed were jailed by a British court in November 2011. All three players were released last year.

Butt appealed to the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sports for a reduction in his five-year ban but his application was rejected.

Butt met Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials late Tuesday to discuss his rehabilitation programme.

"I have offered my availability for the rehabilitation and whenever the PCB wanted me to appear I will be ready," Butt told AFP.

ICC chief executive David Richardson on Tuesday urged the banned players to apologise in public, start rehabilitation and share any information they have on fixing to help the game fight the biggest menace it has faced for years.

Butt refused to comment on Richardson's statement and his directives to feature in ICC's educational videos to help future generations to avoid the pitfalls.

Aamer, who pleaded guilty in Britain, featured in an ICC educational video last year and also attended lectures from psychologist Maqbool Sabri.

Butt said last week he was hopeful about making a career comeback after serving out the remainder of his ban.

PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf has also hinted that the banned players will be allowed to feature in first-class matches and their performances will be monitored.]]>
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			<title>ICC urges Butt, Asif to share fixing information</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/539444/icc-urges-butt-asif-to-share-fixing-information</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/539444/icc-urges-butt-asif-to-share-fixing-information#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 23 Apr 13 14:40:08 +0500</pubDate>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[ICC chief urges players to start the process of rebuilding their lives, reputations by apologising for their actions.]]>
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				<![CDATA[ICC chief executive David Richardson Tuesday urged disgraced Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif to accept their guilt and share information on fixing to start their rehabilitation.

Former captain Butt, along with fast bowlers Asif and Mohammad Aamer, was banned by the International Cricket Council in 2011 after being found guilty of deliberately contriving no-balls in return for money in the Lord's Test in England the previous year.

Butt received a 10-year ban, with five years suspended, and Asif was barred for seven years, with two suspended. Aamer was banned for five years – the minimum punishment in the ICC code.

All three along with their agent Mazhar Majeed were also jailed by an English court in 2011. The three players were released last year.

The Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) last week rejected appeals from Butt and Asif. Aamer did not appeal after pleading guilty at his criminal trial.

Richardson urged the players to share any fixing information they have with the ICC's Anti-Corruption and Safety Unit (ACSU).

"I am certain that both Butt and Asif have information that can be of great assistance to the ACSU and its ongoing fight against corruption in cricket," he said.

"I would, therefore, urge them, without any further delay, to start the process of rebuilding their lives and reputations by apologising for their actions and meeting with ICC's ACSU officials to come clean about what actually happened."

Richardson said the players' guilt had been established at three different forums.

"The guilt of these men has now been established on three separate occasions, in three separate sets of proceedings, first, before the independent Anti-Corruption Tribunal, then in the English criminal courts, and now, finally, in the CAS," he said.

Richardson, a former South African wicket-keeper batsman, said Butt and Asif must now accept their guilt.

"The time has now come for them to stop misleading the public, especially the supporters of the Pakistan cricket team, and to publicly accept their parts in this corrupt conspiracy," he said.

The ICC anti-corruption tribunal had also directed that the trio undergo rehabilitation through the Pakistan Cricket Board or serve their full bans.

Richardson warned that fixing remained the biggest threat to the game.

"In my opinion, the single biggest threat to the viability and strength of cricket, both at international and domestic level, is that posed by those few unscrupulous individuals who, for unlawful financial reward, choose to engage in corrupt practices," he said.

"The ICC and its member boards will continue to remain vigilant in our attempts to prevent corruption in the sport that we are charged with developing and protecting around the world."

Pakistan's reputation in international cricket was further tarnished when leg-spinner Danish Kaneria was banned for life last year after an England and Wales Cricket Board panel found him guilty of paying money to Essex county team-mate Mervyn Wsetfield to underperform in a 2009 match.

Kaneria's appeal against the ban is being heard in London.

The ICC was forced to form its anti-corruption unit in 2001 after the game was rocked by match-fixing scandals resulting in life bans for former South Africa captain Hansie Cronje, India's Mohammad Azharuddin and Salim Malik of Pakistan.]]>
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			<title>Cricket: Reluctant Westfield to appear at Kaneria case</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/539086/cricket-reluctant-westfield-to-appear-at-kaneria-case</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/539086/cricket-reluctant-westfield-to-appear-at-kaneria-case#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 22 Apr 13 18:25:18 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Disgraced pace bowler Mervyn Westfield says he was forced to attend Danish Kaneria's appeal hearing or face arrest.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Disgraced pace bowler Mervyn Westfield on Monday said that he had been forced to attend the appeal hearing of Pakistani spinner Danish Kaneria. 

Mervyn said that if he did not appear for the hearing, he could face arrest.

The case began in London on Monday and is due to last until Thursday, with Kaneria hoping to overturn a life ban imposed by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) last year for inducing Westfield to under-perform in a 2009 county match.

The 32-year-old Kaneria is effectively banned from all cricket worldwide, as all boards under the jurisdiction of the International Cricket Council (ICC) governing body have agreed to uphold punishments made by member countries in such cases.

On the eve of the hearing, though, it was unclear whether Westfield would attend but the 24-year-old said he had only reluctantly agreed.

"I have made it abundantly clear to the ECB that I have no desire to participate in this hearing or to provide any further evidence to that which I had previously done in June 2012," he said in a statement.

"The ECB has this time decided to take the hostile route in seeking the help of a High Court judge, who has signed a court summons in order to secure my attendance.

"As I understand, by not attending today, the ECB would return to the High Court and a warrant for my arrest would be requested."

Both Westfield and Kaneria were arrested in 2010 but while no action was taken against the Pakistan leg spinner, the former Essex quick was prosecuted and found guilty of taking £6,000 off a bookmaker he had been introduced to by Kaneria to bowl below par.

He served two months of a four-month prison sentence and was also banned from first-class cricket for five years.

Kaneria - Pakistan's most successful Test spinner with 261 wickets in 61 matches - has maintained his innocence throughout the saga.

Westfield went on to accuse the ECB, Essex, as well as the Professional Cricketers' Association of failing in their duty of care to support and protect him as he faced trial.

He added that he was hoping to bring an end to the "pain and suffering" that he and his family had gone through.

His testimony at the appeal, which is behind held behind closed doors at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in central London, is considered crucial as he named Kaneria at his trial.

Kaneria's legal team, though, have argued that Westfield's original evidence was inadmissible at the appeal, unless he was available for cross-examination, prompting the ECB action to seek a summons.

Kaneria's lawyers are hoping to overturn the ban, which would clear the way for them to sue the ECB for loss of earnings.

The ECB and Essex declined to comment on Westfield's statement but the chief executive of the PCA, Angus Porter, described the player's criticisms as "slightly confusing".

"I think it is quite a confused statement by a young man who is obviously feeling quite bitter about what has happened to him," he added.

"I can understand him feeling that way. But he got himself into trouble and he is paying the penalty for that.

"We have offered to help him try to rehabilitate himself and that offer remains open."]]>
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			<title>Cricket’s continued disgrace</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/537287/crickets-continued-disgrace</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/537287/crickets-continued-disgrace#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 18 Apr 13 17:23:35 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[We tend to have a “victim complex”, believing that Pakistanis are targeted or the entire world is out to get us.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Disgraced Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif’s last-ditch efforts to revive what is left of their careers have gone in vain. The Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected their appeals on April 17, which they had filed after the International Cricket Council imposed a minimum ban of five years over their role in the spot-fixing scandal of 2010. Since then, the two have used every opportunity to plead innocence and hopelessly tried to gain sympathy from the public they perceive as gullible.

Mohammad Amir, who was also banned in the same case, did admit his wrongdoing in the matter; however, it is painful to see Salman still remaining adamant on his original stance that he had been framed. If anyone believes him, then the only plausible explanation is that someone really went out of their way to ensure that he is proved guilty. But it is said that the first step of grief is denial and we, as a nation, are proof of that. Umpire Nadeem Ghauri, who was caught through a sting operation carried out by an Indian television channel, was shown to be willing to give favourable decisions. The Pakistan Cricket Board conducted an inquiry after gathering the unedited footage and consequently banned him, along with another umpire, following the surfacing of sufficient proof that showed his intent of committing a crime and for failing to report the approach made. The latter, keeping in mind the spot-fixing fiasco in 2010, is a much graver offence.

We tend to have a “victim complex”, believing that Pakistanis are targeted or the entire world is out to get us. Even if one were to concede that point, then there is a reason why this happens. It is because, as a nation, we are used to experiencing corruption everywhere around us — even at the most basic level. It does not scare us and we do not shy away from it. So, it should come as no surprise that we are willing to take part in it. However, denying wrongdoing even after guilt has been confirmed is a new low, even for us.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 19th, 2013.]]>
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			<title>Pakistan to allow Butt, Asif to play post-ban</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/537265/pakistan-to-allow-butt-asif-to-play-post-ban</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/537265/pakistan-to-allow-butt-asif-to-play-post-ban#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 18 Apr 13 14:02:46 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[PCB chairman says the players will be allowed to play domestic cricket after serving bans.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan will allow disgraced former captain Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif back into domestic cricket once they serve their bans for spot-fixing, the country's cricket chief said Thursday.

Butt, Asif and team-mate Mohammad Aamer were banned for a minimum of five years by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after being found guilty of spot-fixing at the 2010 Lords Test against England.

On Wednesday, the Court of Arbitration for Sports rejected appeals from Butt and Asif. Aamer, who had pleaded guilty, did not appeal.

Butt was banned for 10 years, five suspended, and Asif for seven years with two suspended. Aamer's five-year ban was the minimum the ICC could impose.

All three were jailed by a British court in 2011 but were released last year.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf said Butt and Asif will have to serve their spot-fixing bans.

"They will have to serve it. Then we will include them in first-class domestic cricket and see how they perform," said Ashraf.

Butt on Wednesday vowed to revive his career.

"I have completed half of my punishment, so in 2015 I will be eligible to play and I am motivated and fit to revive my career," Butt told a news conference.

Ashraf said no player should ever fix.

"If he does, he will destroy his future and bring a bad name, not only to himself but to his country," said Ashraf.

Former captain Rashid Latif said Butt and Asif had a right to play after their bans "provided they are fit and have the will to play".

"I would have been disappointed if they were let off," Latif told AFP.

West Indies' Marlon Samuels is the only player to return to international cricket after being banned for having links to a bookmaker. He was out of the game for two years, returning in 2010.]]>
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			<title>CAS rejects Salman, Asif ban appeals</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/536846/cas-rejects-salman-asif-ban-appeals</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/536846/cas-rejects-salman-asif-ban-appeals#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 17 Apr 13 20:23:33 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Disgraced cricketers’ last-ditch effort goes in vain.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Court of Arbitration for Sport has rejected appeals against spot-fixing bans filed by disgraced former Pakistan captain Salman Butt and fast-bowler Mohammad Asif.

“The CAS has dismissed the appeals filed by the Pakistan cricket players Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt,” said CAS in a statement. “The appeals had been made against the decisions taken by the International Cricket Council (ICC) Tribunal on February 5 2011.”

The two players turned to the Swiss-based CAS in a last-ditch attempt to have their bans voided, saying they were desperate to return to the game they love.

Meanwhile, ICC Chief Executive David Richardson also issued a statement after the decision.

“The ICC notes and welcomes the decisions of the CAS as they vindicate and confirm the processes and procedures followed by the ICC over the past couple of years in respect of this important, sensitive and high-profile matter.”

Butt received a 10-year ban, five years of which were suspended, and Asif was sanctioned for seven years, with two suspended.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 18th, 2013.]]>
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			<title>Timeline of cricket corruption cases</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/536693/timeline-of-cricket-corruption-cases</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/536693/timeline-of-cricket-corruption-cases#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 17 Apr 13 13:25:49 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[All players who had been implicated in corruption cases were dealt with by their respective cricket boards.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt and fast bowler Mohammad Asif, who on Wednesday lost their appeal at the Court of Abritration for Sport against spot-fixing bans, were the first players with team-mate Mohammad Aamer to be punished by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Before them all the players who had been implicated in corruption cases were dealt with by their respective cricket boards.
Life bans
May 2000: Former Pakistan captain Salim Malik banned for life by a judicial inquiry conducted by judge Malik Mohammad Qayyum. Malik was alleged to have fixed matches on Pakistan's tour of New Zealand in 1993, South Africa and Zimbabwe (1994-95).

Australian players Shane Warne, Mark Waugh and Tim May also alleged Malik offered them bribes to underperform during Australia's tour to Pakistan in 1994.

Team-mate Rashid Latif also accused Malik of wrongdoing.

Pakistan paceman Ata-ur-Rehman banned for life for perjury during the Qayyum inquiry. His ban was overturned by the Pakistan Cricket Board in 2003 -- a decision accepted by the ICC in 2006.

October 2000: Former South African captain Hansie Cronje banned for life by the United Cricket Board of South Africa after he admitted to match-fixing and having contacts with book-makers. Cronje died in a place crash in June 2002.

December 2000: Former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin banned for life after an investigation conducted by India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He was found to have contacts with book-makers and manipulated match results.

December 2000: Former Indian off-spinner Ajay Sharma banned for life in the same CBI inquiry.

June 2012: Indian paceman TP Sudhindra given a life-ban after he was found guilty of "receiving a consideration to spot-fix" in a domestic match.

Pakistani spinner Danish Kaneria was banned for life by the the England and Wales Cricket Board after he was found guilty of corruption. The PCB subsequently extended the ban to include his native country.
Bans:
December 2000: The same CBI inquiry found Ajau Jadeja to have links with bookmakers. He was banned for five years but on appeal allowed to play in  domestic cricket in India three years later.

October 2000: South African opener Herschelle Gibbs banned for six months after admitting being offered money to under-perform.

October 2000: South African paceman Henry Williams banned for six months after admitting taking money from Cronje to under-perform.

August 2004: Kenyan cricketer Maurice Odume banned for five years by the Kenyan Cricket Association after it was found that he received money from bookmakers.

May 2008: West Indian all-rounder Marlon Samuels banned for two years after it was proved he took money from a bookie to give match-related information.

February 2011: Salman Butt banned for 10 for spot-fixing. Mohammad Asif banned for seven years and Mohammad Aamer for five years.

January 2012: Former Essex quick bowler Mervyn Westfield received a five-year ban after he pleaded guilty to spot-fixing in a Pro40 tie against Durham in 2009.

June 2012: Indian trio Mohnish Mishra, Amit Yadav, Abhinav Bali were banned by for a year by the BCCI's disciplinary committee for bringing the game into disrepute following an Indian TV sting.

Shalabh Srivastava, also caught up in the sting, was barred from cricket for five years after he was deemed guilty of agreeing and negotiating terms to fix a match, though no fixing ultimately took place.

September 2012: Ex-Bangladesh cricketer Sheriful Haque was handed an indefinite suspension after allegations of spot-fixing made by compatriot Mashrafe Mortaza were substantiated.
Fines:
December 1998: Warne fined (10,000 Australian dollars) and Mark Waugh (Aus $8,000) for taking money from a bookmaker for providing match-related information during a tour to Sri Lanka in 1994. The matter was only brought to light after four years.

May 2000: Pakistan's Wasim Akram was fined 300,000 rupees ($4,000)on his role in match-fixing and offering bribes to other players to under-perform. He was also censured and banned from leading Pakistan again.

Five other players, leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed (300,000 rupees), Inzamam-ul-Haq, Waqar Younis, Saeed Anwar and Akram Raza (100,000 rupees) all fined for their roles in match-fixing after Qayyum inquiry.]]>
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			<title>CAS rejects Butt, Asif ban appeals</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/536680/cas-rejects-salman-butts-appeal-against-fixing-ban-lawyer</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/536680/cas-rejects-salman-butts-appeal-against-fixing-ban-lawyer#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 17 Apr 13 10:34:42 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[afp]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=536680</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Butt received a 10-year ban and Asif was barred for seven years.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Court of Arbitration for Sport on Wednesday said that it had rejected appeals against spot-fixing bans filed by disgraced former Pakistan cricket captain Salman Butt and spin bowler Mohammad Asif.

"The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed the appeals filed by the Pakistani cricket players Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt against the decisions taken by the International Cricket Council Tribunal on 5 February 2011," it said in a statement.

Butt received a 10-year ban, five years of which were suspended, and Asif was barred for seven years, with two suspended, following a probe of the deliberate bowling of no balls at a Test match in London in 2010.

The now-defunct British newspaper the News of the World exposed the players in a sting operation involving their agent Mazhar Majeed who struck a deal for 150,000 pounds ($230,000) with an undercover reporter.

Butt, now 28, was banned for 10 years with the possibility of five suspended and all three were jailed in England in November 2011.

Aamer, banned for five years, pleaded guilty in court and decided not to appeal against the ICC ban, while a decision on Asif's appeal was still awaited.

The appeals of Butt and Asif were heard by a three-member CAS panel led by lawyer Graham Mew and accompanied by Romano Subiotto and Robert Reid.]]>
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			<title>Spot-fixing: Kaneria optimistic in fixing ban appeal</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/536279/spot-fixing-kaneria-optimistic-in-fixing-ban-appeal</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/536279/spot-fixing-kaneria-optimistic-in-fixing-ban-appeal#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 16 Apr 13 14:08:55 +0500</pubDate>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=536279</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Kaneria's appeal against a life ban for spot-fixing will be heard in London on Monday.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistani leg-spinner Danish Kaneria said Tuesday he was hopeful of winning his appeal against a life ban imposed by the English board last year for spot-fixing.

The 32-year-old was banned after an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) panel found him guilty of getting former Essex team-mate Mervyn Westfield to concede a certain number of runs in an over during a 2009 one-day county match in return for money.

Kaneria's appeal will be heard in London on Monday after it was initially postponed in December last year because Westfield did not appear.

"I am quite hopeful of a relief," Kaneria told AFP before his departure on Tuesday evening. "There was no evidence against me and I have maintained that the ban was unjust and I will fight till the last."

The scandal broke in May 2010 when Essex police arrested both Kaneria and Westfield, but the Pakistani spinner was released without charge and has maintained his innocence throughout.

Westfield, however, was charged and sent to jail for four months after a trial.

Before the incident took place, Kaneria was part of Pakistan's national team and was the country's best spinner, with 261 wickets in 61 Tests. He also played in 18 one-day internationals.

Pakistan had to endorse the ban as under International Cricket Council rules sanctions on any player from any member country apply in all other member countries.

Kaneria said he felt abandoned.

"I am left alone in this fight, no one has supported me," he said. "The case has destroyed my career and my life so I appeal to my countryman to support me because I have not done anything wrong."]]>
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			<title>PCB bans umpire Nadeem Ghauri over spot-fixing</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/535113/pcb-bans-nadeem-ghauri-over-spot-fixing</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/535113/pcb-bans-nadeem-ghauri-over-spot-fixing#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 13 Apr 13 13:34:13 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[afp]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=535113</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[International umpire Nadeem Ghauri banned for four years after sting operation by an Indian television channel.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan cricket authorities Saturday banned international umpire Nadeem Ghauri for four years after a sting operation by an Indian television channel found him willing to spot-fix.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the ban for Ghauri, 50, a former international player, who officiated in five Tests, 43 one-day and four Twenty20 internationals.

Last October, India TV had carried out a sting operation through which they leveled corruption allegations on six umpires, including four from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka besides the Pakistan pair.

Subsequently, the International Cricket Council (ICC) suspended the tainted umpires, as a result of which the PCB disallowed Ghauri and Anees Siddiqui from officiating in domestic cricket and formed a committee to investigate the matter.]]>
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			<title>Return to cricket: Mohammad Asif hopeful CAS will overturn his ban</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/504367/return-to-cricket-mohammad-asif-hopeful-cas-will-overturn-his-ban</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/504367/return-to-cricket-mohammad-asif-hopeful-cas-will-overturn-his-ban#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 07 Feb 13 20:37:19 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=504367</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[CAS to rule of Asif's appeal in the next three weeks.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Fast bowler Mohammad Asif is hopeful the Court of Arbitration for Sport will overturn his ban for spot-fixing in one of the biggest cricket scandals in years, he said on Thursday.

"Today was quite busy," Asif told AFP after the end of a day-long hearing behind closed doors at the CAS's Swiss headquarters. "They will give us their decision in the next three weeks."

He added: "Hopefully I am going to win this case. I'd like to play cricket again."

On Friday, Pakistan captain Salman Butt is due to attend a CAS appeal hearing on his own ban.

Butt, Asif and fellow fast bowler Mohammad Aamer were banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for contriving to bowl deliberate no-balls during the Lord's Test between Pakistan and England in August 2010.

Butt was banned for 10 years, with five suspended, Asif for seven years, with two suspended, and the then teenager Aamer for five years.

The trio were also jailed by a British court over the scandal in November 2011. All three were released last year after completing half of their sentences.

Aamer, now 20, decided not to pursue his appeal at the CAS, after pleading guilty to the charges in Britain.

"It's a high-profile case of two world-class players with the whole cricket world focused on it and we will fight to get the ban overturned," Asif's lawyer Ravi Sukul told AFP from London earlier this week.

"Asif was a terrific bowler and it was terribly unfortunate that a bowler of his class suffered this, but we will try our best to get this ban overturned and Asif is in high spirits."

Asif, 30, played 23 Tests and 38 one-day internationals and was regarded as one of the best new-ball bowlers in the world.

Butt, 28, was made Test captain on the fateful tour of England, and Aamer was regarded as the fastest emerging bowler in the world.]]>
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			<title>Cricket: CAS starts hearing on Asif spot-fixing ban</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/503993/cricket-cas-starts-hearing-on-asif-spot-fixing-ban</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/503993/cricket-cas-starts-hearing-on-asif-spot-fixing-ban#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 07 Feb 13 12:54:27 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=503993</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[While Butt and Asif are fighting their cases, Aamir has decided not to pursue his appeal at CAS.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Court of Arbitration for Sport on Thursday kicked off an appeal hearing where Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Asif hopes to overturn a ban imposed for spot-fixing.

Matthieu Reeb, head of the Swiss-based tribunal, said the hearing was due to end at 6:00 pm and Asif was there in person to fight his case.

On Friday, Salman Butt is due to attend a CAS appeal hearing on his own ban.

The court is not expected to issue a ruling in their case this week.

Butt, Asif and fellow fast bowler Mohammad Aamir were banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for contriving to bowl deliberate no-balls during the Lord's Test between Pakistan and England in August 2010.

Butt was banned for 10 years, with five suspended, Asif for seven years with two suspended and the then teenager Aamir for five years.

The trio was also jailed by a British court over the scandal in November 2011. All three were released last year after completing half of their sentences.

Aamir, now 20, decided not to pursue his appeal at CAS, after pleading guilty to the charges in Britain.

"It's a high-profile case of two world-class players with the whole cricket world focused on it and we will fight to get the ban overturned," Asif's lawyer Ravi Sukul told AFP from London earlier this week.

"Asif was a terrific bowler and it was terribly unfortunate that a bowler of his class suffered this, but we will try our best to get this ban overturned and Asif is in high spirits."

Asif, 30, played 23 Tests and 38 one-day internationals and was regarded as one of the best new-ball bowlers in the world.

Butt, 28, was made Test captain on that fateful tour of England, and Aamir was regarded as the fastest emerging bowler in the world.]]>
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			<title>Cricket: Banned Butt wants Pakistan career revival</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/503989/cricket-banned-butt-wants-pakistan-career-revival</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/503989/cricket-banned-butt-wants-pakistan-career-revival#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 07 Feb 13 12:35:33 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=503989</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Salman Butt, Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Aamir were banned by ICC in 2011 after being found guilty of match fixing.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt Thursday pleaded for a revival of his cricket career, frozen by a long ban for spot-fixing in the infamous Lord's Test against England in 2010.

The 28-year-old was banned for 10 years, with the possibility of five suspended, for his role in arranging no balls to order in the match, but will appeal against the sentence at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Friday.

Butt, who was jailed by a British court over the scandal, said the suspension was a career-ending punishment.

"It may be easy for some people to say that a five-year ban from cricket is all right but what they don't realise is that for a sportsman like me this is like a lifetime ban," he said in a statement issued by his lawyer.

"My whole family and my life is disturbed."

Butt and pace men Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Aamir were banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2011 after being found guilty of deliberately contriving no-balls.

The now defunct British newspaper the News of the World exposed the players in a sting operation involving their agent Mazhar Majeed who struck a deal for 150,000 pounds with an undercover reporter.

Aamir, banned for five years, pleaded guilty in court and decided not to appeal against the ICC ban, while Asif will appear at the CAS on Thursday to contest his ban of seven years, with the possibility of two suspended.

Butt, whose wife gave birth to their second son on the day he was jailed by the British court, said he wanted another opportunity to play for Pakistan.

"Cricket is my life and every single day that has passed has been so painful because I have not been able to play. All I want is an opportunity to get back into cricket whilst I am still young and I can still play well."

Butt's lawyer Yasin Patel said the ban was harsh.

"We are appealing the sanctions that were imposed upon us and they should not have been so high," Patel was quoted in the statement.

The ICC will be represented by their legal firm Bird and Bird along with the head of their legal department.]]>
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			<title>British court wrongly convicted Pakistani cricket team players: Book</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/464459/british-court-wrongly-convicted-pakistani-cricket-team-players-book</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/464459/british-court-wrongly-convicted-pakistani-cricket-team-players-book#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 12 Nov 12 10:28:52 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=464459</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[UK columnist in his book claims the jury that tried Butt, Amir and Asif were not aware of spot fixing rules.]]>
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				<![CDATA[In a second exclusive of his book on corruption in cricket, Ed Hawkins has described how the judge and the jury that convicted Pakistan’s Amir, Asif and Butt were themselves not fully aware of match and spot fixing rules, reports the DailyMail.

The then captain Salman Butt, and bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were jailed for 30 months, one year and six months respectively after being convicted on charges of spot fixing last year.

They were convicted for involvement in bowling no-balls, but the book quotes Indian bookies as saying that no-balls are not gambled upon because there is a great chance of the person already having inside information.

“Do you think we’re fools? If someone says they want this no-ball bet for big monies and I’m Ladbrokes, I tell them to go away. No bookmaker in the world takes this bet,” an Indian bookie was quoted as saying.

The book revealed that the court and the judge who tried the Pakistani trio were not aware of this fact.

Hawkins also claims in his book that the bookie Mazhar Majeed was not the experience kingpin as he was portrayed to be.

If he was, Hawkins argues, betting on no-balls would have ringed alarm bells in his head.]]>
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			<title>CAS sets date for appeals by Asif, Butt</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/461604/cas-sets-date-for-appeals-by-asif-butt</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/461604/cas-sets-date-for-appeals-by-asif-butt#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 06 Nov 12 09:05:18 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=461604</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Players' appeals against International Cricket Council bans will be heard between February 5-8 next year.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Tuesday confirmed it will hear appeals from Pakistan cricketers Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt, two years after they were banned for spot-fixing.

The CAS website and both players said the appeals against the International Cricket Council (ICC) bans will be heard between February 5-8 next year.

“Asif’s appeal will be heard between 5-7 February while Butt’s appeal will be taken up on February 8,” the CAS confirmed from its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Captain Butt and fast bowlers Asif and Mohammad Aamer were all banned by the ICC for contriving to bowl deliberate no-balls during the Lord’s Test between Pakistan and England in August 2010.

Butt was banned for 10 years, with five suspended, Asif for seven years with two suspended and teenager Aamer for five years.

The trio were also jailed by a British court over the scandal in November 2011. All three were released earlier this year after completing half of their sentences.

Aamer decided not to pursue his appeal to the CAS after pleading guilty to the charges before the UK court.

Asif, who returned home last week, confirmed his appeal will be heard in February.

“I had filed the appeal after the ban but could not pursue it because of the criminal proceedings, but now it will be taken up by the CAS in the first week of February,” Asif told AFP.

Butt said he was looking forward to the hearing.

“I have not talked to my lawyer for a few days but he knows exactly about the appeal in the CAS and I hope justice will be done,” he said.]]>
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			<title>What spot-fixing?: Charges against me are wrong, claims Muhammad Asif</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/457782/what-spot-fixing-charges-against-me-are-wrong-claims-muhammad-asif</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/457782/what-spot-fixing-charges-against-me-are-wrong-claims-muhammad-asif#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 29 Oct 12 12:21:29 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[ferya..ilyas]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=457782</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Asif alleges ICC had tried to influence the court proceedings.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistani cricketer Muhammad Asif on Monday accused the International Cricket Council (ICC) of a "biased attitude" in the spot-fixing case that led to his imprisonment.

The 29-year-old was jailed by a London court in November 2011 after being found guilty of conspiring to cheat and conspiring to accept corrupt payments over no-balls bowled deliberately during the 2010 Lord’s Test against England.

Speaking to media in Lahore on his return from UK, Asif alleged that the ICC had tried to influence the court proceedings.

“The charges against me are wrong, I would never do anything that would undermine my country,” he told the media.

Responding to a question regarding the charges levelled against him and his conviction, Asif said “having being jailed doesn’t mean one is guilty; many are jailed despite their innocence.”

He said his case will be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sports in the beginning of February 2013 and that he expects justice.

The disgraced cricketer mentioned his upcoming book in which he said he has explained his case in detail.

Asif also criticised the media several times for not highlighting his case properly.

Accusing ICC for acting differently in his case because of his nationality, Asif said the council did not act against English county player Mervyn Westfield until the court convicted him.

“In my case, the ICC imposed a ban on me well before the court had issued any statement,” he stressed.]]>
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			<title>There’s an air of repentance around Amir</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/433562/there%e2%80%99s-an-air-of-repentance-around-amir</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/433562/there%e2%80%99s-an-air-of-repentance-around-amir#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 08 Sep 12 16:34:01 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[faras.ghani]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category><category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=433562</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Live on TV Amir did not stretch over the limits — the counselling he spoke of, religious &amp;amp; mending ways, had hit home.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Mohammad Amir’s first national television appearance since his return to Pakistan brought back memories.

No, not the memories associated with bad hosts and largely irrelevant questions driving home an agenda but times when those straightened hair, now with streaks, remained ruffled, uncombed and unperturbed by worldly matters. My first sight of Amir was at the Lord’s training ground, a frail-framed boy scampering towards the assembly point for the squad, pads under one arm, bat in the other.

“Are you Amir?” I had asked, unfamiliar with the new faces the selectors had introduced for the 2009 World Twenty 20. He stopped, spikes drilled into the turf, smiled and replied, “Jee, I’m that fast-bowler.” He wanted to talk, perhaps, about himself and his bowling, maybe about why I had stopped him, since at that time, we were both strangers to each other. We didn’t get to talk any further as an angry voice demanded his presence in the huddle.

I managed a few meetings with him after that. What remained impressive every time were not his improving stats and the bulging bag of plaudits — and the sheer weight of expectations and lavished praise he easily carried on those frail shoulders — but his learning curve, an earnest evaluation of his performance and the child-like urge to soak in extolment that drove in from all over. He talked of his bowling — and I keep repeating this as I search to find a better metaphor — like a doctorate in his hands, coming off the field a different, better educated boy every time.

That live interview was no different — he seemed smarter, more mature and paced himself nicely. There was no stretching over the limits — an act that started the rot — and it seemed that the counselling he spoke of, both religious and of mending his ways, had hit home. Much needed after the gravity of the sin committed which, given the heights he had reached, had left the followers annoyed, then alarmed and finally aghast. The stench of betrayal as the allegations turned into conviction now felt like an aura of trust. The hosts, and some callers tried their best to make him falter on-air, working hard to entice him into a false shot but Amir seemed to have worked well on his defences and accuracy.

Their efforts bordered desperation, some even skirmishing with inanity but Amir was true to his words when he repeatedly said it was all about him and no one else. The unerring stance oozed steadfastness to achieve his next goal — make an international comeback — and aptly took me back to that first brief meeting when that ebullience that was sharing personal aims and celebrating success, seemed like the world to him.

Opinions may still differ, knives may still be out and the wait is still over two years (if the International Cricket Council refuses to budge). Pakistan cricket might produce another Amir — excusing blasphemy, even Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis or Shoaib Akhtar — in that time. But just like thousands tuned in to Veena Malik recently, sending her widely reported past to the darkest corners of their memories, it is hoped that Amir’s comeback, if he does return, will be greeted with memories of his trickery with the ball and not of his overly stretched leg. He needs to be forgiven and provided a helping hand, not because the country can’t produce another Amir but because this youngster — unlike politicians, policemen, milk-sellers and the thousands we come across regularly — has an honest air of repentance about him. After all, we trusted him with his honesty, integrity and conscientiousness for over a year when those hair were ruffled, uncombed and unperturbed by worldly matters.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9th, 2012. ]]>
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			<title>Mohammad Asif set to pursue appeal on ICC ban</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/428484/mohammad-asif-submits-appeal-against-icc-ban</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/428484/mohammad-asif-submits-appeal-against-icc-ban#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Aug 12 11:25:06 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[afp]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Asif was found guilty of bowling no-balls during Pakistan’s tour of England in 2010.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan paceman Mohammad Asif said Thursday he will pursue an appeal against a seven-year ban imposed on him by cricket's governing body over the 2010 spot-fixing scandal.

The 29-year-old was jailed by a London court in November last year after being found guilty of conspiring to cheat and conspiring to accept corrupt payments over no-balls bowled deliberately during the 2010 Lord's Test against England.

Team-mates Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir have also been released after being sent to prison in the same case.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) banned the trio from playing all cricket for five years. Asif's seven year sanction includes a two-year suspended portion.

Asif said his appeal in the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) had been put on hold due to the criminal proceedings against him in England.

"I had filed the appeal when I was banned by the ICC (in February 2011) and now I have decided to pursue my appeal through my counsel Ravi Gill and hope that a date is given to me very soon," Asif told AFP from London.

Once considered a fast-rising talent, Asif twice failed dope tests, in 2006 and 2008, the second during the inaugural Indian Premier League season which ended in a one-year ban.

He was also detained in Dubai for 19 days in June 2008 for possession of a banned drug.

Asif said he was practising hard and played a club match in England on Monday, taking a hat-trick and winning the man-of-the-match award, and was keen to resume his international career.

"I hope that I will get a fair result from the CAS and then hopefully able to revive my career," said Asif, who has yet to return home since being released from prison in May.

"If I don't get an early date then I will return to Pakistan and whenever I get a date then I will go to Switzerland. It has been a tough period, without cricket and away from home but I am sure it’s going to be over soon," said Asif.

Asif has taken 106 wickets in 23 Tests. His tally in 38 one-day internationals stood at 46. He also played 11 Twenty20s for Pakistan, taking 13 wickets.

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			<title>Deported to Pakistan, Salman Butt says he is innocent of spot-fixing</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/397557/deported-to-pakistan-salman-butt-says-he-is-innocent-of-spot-fixing</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/397557/deported-to-pakistan-salman-butt-says-he-is-innocent-of-spot-fixing#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 21 Jun 12 23:47:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[gibran.ashraf]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=397557</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Says he was sentenced for &quot;failure to report&quot; advances of a bookie to the authorities, for which he apologised.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Returning to Pakistan after spending close to nine months in prison in Britain, former Pakistan national cricket team captain Salman Butt maintained that he was innocent of spot-fixing, clarifying that he had served a sentence for “failure to report” advances from a bookie.

“I have never entertained any offer, nothing ever practically happened in a match that was linked to any offer. Of spot-fixing or any fixing, I never asked anyone to do anything or bowl any no-balls, I am not associated with it.”

Speaking to media men upon his arrival at the Allama Iqbal airport in Lahore early Friday morning, Butt admitted he had failed to report the advances to due authorities, and for this he had served a commuted sentence.

“I apologised to the ICC for this, I did not report the events [advances] between these two to three months because I knew the person,” explained Butt, adding that he hoped the former sporting agent, Mazhar Majeed would realise the wrongdoing and correct his ways.

“To the people of Pakistan, all the cricketers, those who support us and make us stars, I apologise - but for failure to report,” Butt asserted.

Pressed for answers by the media which had waited to talk to Butt for more than an hour after his flight had landed, said that he would sit with his legal team and hold a press conference to explain everything.

Asked what he wanted to do next, the former left-handed batsman said that he wanted to make a comeback as a “good person, a good pakistani, and as a good cricketer.”

In response to a question he said he felt very good to have returned home. “No place like Pakistan.”

Butt, who was implicated in spot-fixing for the third test match between Pakistan and England, had been convicted by an ICC tribunal in February 2011 on charges of failing to report an advance and for ordering two of his bowlers, playing under his command, to bowl no-balls at specific times during the match. He was banned from the sport of cricket for 10 years, the last five of which were suspended, provided he did not commit further offences and participate in a Pakistan Cricket Board anti-corruption programme.

He, and fellow players Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif were convicted by the Southwark court for conspiracy to cheat at gambling and conspiracy to accept corrupt payments in November 2011. Butt was sentenced to 30 months for this offence.]]>
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			<title>Therapy for pacer Mohammad Amir starts</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/395452/therapy-for-disgraced-pacer-mohammad-amir-starts</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/395452/therapy-for-disgraced-pacer-mohammad-amir-starts#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 18 Jun 12 15:19:40 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[afp]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=395452</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Aamir's therapist says that the fast-bowler wants to return to the game.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan's disgraced paceman Mohammed Amir is looking forward to returning to cricket "as and when possible", the psychologist helping to rehabilitate his career said Monday.

In the first of several counselling sessions Maqbool Babri, who was hired by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to counsel Amir, said his client appeared "positive and relaxed" despite his five-year ban from the game for cheating.

The 20-year-old was found guilty of spot-fixing during a Test at Lord's in 2010, spent three months in a British jail and was banned from the game by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The ICC also banned pace partner Mohammad Asif and ex-captain Salman Butt, ordering the trio to undergo rehabilitation.

Babri said Amir was upbeat in the first of eight to 10 sessions.

"I am very surprised that he was very positive and relaxed during the first session with me on Saturday," Babri told AFP. "I think that Amir's lawyer was a positive influence on him and has guided him well."

Before the scandal, Amir was regarded as the hottest new international talent due to the lethal left-arm pace bowling which likened him to Pakistan former great Wasim Akram.

Babri said Amir believes he belongs in the cricketing world.

"Amir realises that cricket is his profession and he wants to return to the game as and when possible, and during the session we moved towards enlightment," he said.

"I think he realises that he made a mistake... and since he is very passionate about his cricket I have to make him ready for that," Babri added.

Amir has decided not to appeal his ICC ban. He was released from prison in February. Asif was freed last month and Butt is still serving his 30-month sentence.]]>
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			<title>Spot-fixing: Mazhar Majeed appeals against conviction</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/383669/spot-fixing-mazhar-majeed-appeals-against-conviction</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/383669/spot-fixing-mazhar-majeed-appeals-against-conviction#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 24 May 12 16:14:16 +0500</pubDate>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Majeed was convicted for striking the deal during the 2010 Pak vs Eng series, was sentenced to 32 months in prison.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Former sports agent Mazhar Majeed, jailed for his involvement in a spot-fixing scandal, has appealed against his conviction, a private news channel reported on Thursday.     

Majeed along with the infamous trio, Mohammad Asif, Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir were all given jail terms of varying lengths by a court in London in October 2011. They had been found guilty of being involved in spot-fixing during Pakistan’s tour of England in 2010.

The two bowlers, in connivance with then skipper, Butt, were to bowl no-balls on predetermined deliveries in exchange for vast amounts of money. The fix had been made between Majeed, who was close to the players, and undercover News of the World reporters. The undercover reporters had managed to video tape the entire deal.

Majeed was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison.

Former Test captain Butt was jailed for two and a half years for his role as the "organiser" of a plot to bowl deliberate no-balls in the 2010 Lord's Test against England. Former Test bowler Asif was sentenced to 12 months, while underage Amir, who had shown tremendous potential for the game, was sentenced to six months.

Amir and Butt failed in an attempt to have their sentences reduced at the Court of Appeal in November 2011. Amir and Asif were released recently in 2012 after completing their jail terms.

In February 2011, an International Cricket Council (ICC) tribunal had banned former captain Butt for 10 years (the last five years of which have been suspended should no further offences happen), Asif for seven years (with last two years suspended should no further offences happen) and Amir for five years.]]>
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			<title>Fallen hero: Mohammad Asif to be released on May 5</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/372446/fallen-hero-mohammad-asif-to-be-released-on-may-5</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/372446/fallen-hero-mohammad-asif-to-be-released-on-may-5#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 30 Apr 12 21:01:27 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=372446</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[According to lawyer Ravi Gill, Asif will decide when to return home after he is released.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Once Pakistan’s star cricketer and now fallen hero, Mohammad Asif, is scheduled to be released on May 5, after serving his sentence in the United Kingdom, The Times of India reported on Monday.

According to his lawyer Ravi Gill, Asif will decide when to return home after his release, "Asif will complete his jail term on May 5 and all formalities have been completed for his release."

The infamous trio, including bowlers Asif, Mohammad Amir and batsman Salman Butt, were given jail terms of varying lengths by a London court in October 2011 for being involved in spot-fixing during Pakistan’s tour of England in 2010.

They had been found guilty of bowling no-balls on predetermined deliveries in exchange for vast amounts of money. The fix had been made between Mazhar Majeed, who was close to the players, and an undercover News of the World reporters. The undercover reporters managed to video tape the entire deal.

Asif, 29, was jailed for 12 months while Butt was given a 30-month sentence. All three had appealed against their sentences but were rejected by the Lord Chief Justice.

In February 2011, an International Cricket Council (ICC) tribunal had banned former captain Butt for 10 years (the last five years of which have been suspended should no further offences happen), Asif for seven years (with last two years suspended should no further offences happen) and Amir for five years.

However, Asif has lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) against his ban in January 2012.

"We have heard Asif is being released this week. Whenever he returns to Pakistan, the terms and conditions of the ICC ban will remain on him and he will not be allowed to take part in any cricket related activity in Pakistan," a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official said.

A family member of Asif said they wanted him to return home as soon as he was released as they were eager to meet him.

Since his debut in 2005, Asif took 106 wickets in 23 tests , 36 wickets in 48 one-day internationals and 13 wickets in 11 Twenty-20 internationals.

Meanwhile Amir, the youngest of the three, who was released in February and returned home in March after completing a six month jail term at a youth detention centre in the UK has decided against appealing against his five year ban imposed by the ICC.

While he cannot participate in any cricketing activities, including being barred him from using the facilities at the National Cricket Academy by the PCB, the board has decided to use him in their fight against corruption and warning the country’s young cricketers about the effects of indulging in spot-fixing or match-fixing.]]>
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