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Holding the PCB to account
The PCB and ICC aren’t blameless, so if we are chastising those who have erred, why stop at the players?
The writer is a sub-editor on the web desk of The Express Tribune and is an LLB graduate from the University of London [email protected]
Band-aids can rarely be ripped off painlessly, but when a wound inflicts a vital organ and runs deep enough to set your nervous system on fire, the sting is blinding.
Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir have been banned from the crease for 10, seven and five years respectively, and the decision has rendered part of my cricket-loving spirit comatose. The tragic ending of this saga brings one thing to light: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and International Cricket Council (ICC) aren’t blameless, so if we are chastising those who have erred, why stop at the players?
The PCB management behaved like an intoxicated bully from the word go; their first press conference when the scandal erupted exposed their callous attitude, and their initial claims that the players are “innocent until proven guilty” were hogwash. If the board thought that the players were being maligned, it should have served a legal notice on the British tabloid that had reported on the corruption allegation. Why was this affair allowed to stretch over a period of more than six months, especially so close to the World Cup? Perhaps this is all part of a ‘we-love-surprises’ attitude, considering they didn’t select a captain till the thirteenth hour.
The ICC’s culpability lies in the violation of its very own rules. Article 8 of its anti-corruption code quite clearly states that “neither the ICC nor any National Cricket Federation shall publicly identify any Player or Player Support Personnel who has been alleged to have committed an offence under the Anti-Corruption Code until it has been determined in a hearing”. Instead of declining to comment on the news published by the News of the World, the ICC added fuel to the fire ignited by the media. Furthermore, the fact that the players have been charged with bribery, by British prosecutors, should have deterred the tribunal from making its decision public.
All said and done, the players are guilty and have been rightfully punished. As heartbreaking as it is to see a player as gifted as Amir banished for five years, his hubris was his tragic flaw. What made him wear that ‘legalise cannabis’ T-shirt before the tribunal in Doha? Why did he play that ‘practice match’ in Pindi? Ignorance of the law is never an excuse but it seems that, along with Amir, his mentors were plunged into the black abyss of oblivion.
I blame the PCB’s faithlessness and lack of will to educate and coach young players for this mess. Butt, Asif and Amir have proven to be liars and cheaters, but the PCB needs to accept some responsibility for what has happened and end the cycle of deceit that has contaminated a sport that draws undying love from Pakistanis.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 8th, 2011.
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Reader Comments (26)
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Based on what we know now, these guys got off easy, if anything two senior players should have been banned for life and Amir probably got the right sentence. Those responsible for directly managing these players need to be taken to task and barred from holding any official positions this would include the current coach Waqar Younus. Recommend
Dear Author,
Blame PCB / ICC or any one else in the world. But be happy that the guilty have been punished. These were just the instances where they were caught in the act.. do you know how many more they might have done?? And do you have any idea how many others in the team were involved?
You can have any number of regulatory authorities like ICC PCB and so on… but these cricketers are individuals and should know what they are doing. They have shamed the very game that gave them recognition. And last but not the least… stop your sympathies to Amir. He is not a kid … the least he could have done is go to PCB or ICC as soon as he was approached for this shameless act.
Do you know how many more such no balls he might have bowled for money?? or underperformed????
Shame… instead of condemning these cheats and taking them to task.. you are finding ways to blame ICC and pcb for this.Recommend
I think the author has specified quite clearly that the punishments were appropriate, and her comments on holding the ICC and PCB responsible for some part of the way the situation was handled and the way it became an added PR nightmare for a country already plagued by its reputation for harbouring terrorists could have been controlled, and for that there definitely should be some accountability.Recommend
The PCB yet again showed its incompetence, but to make a statement like “I blame the PCB’s faithlessness….for this mess” is naive and born out of emotion rather than reason. Butt, Asif and Amir were 3 of the country’s premier cricketers, and each one had the potential to achieve superstar status. They are young, but not that young; they were surely aware that a successful cricketer would achieve riches without corruption, they have seen people like Imran Khan, Rameez Raja do tremendously well for themselves.They did what they did because it was quick money with a very slight risk, and for that they have been punished. I am glad that they didn’t receive life bans; as a cricket fan I would enjoy seeing them playing some day, but I’m also glad that the sentencing was harsh enough to set the right precedent.
It’s also a little feeble to blame the ICC, considering that their conduct during this trial was a massive step in the right direction. Yes, there are things they could have done better, especially with respect to handling the media. But compare the spot-fixing trial to them washing their hands off the Qayyum report and other instances where they left the respective boards to deal with match-fixing, even though they know the levels of cronyism and corruption that existed within them. Some things in sport need to be centralized. An anti-corruption task force is one of them.
I’m not sure how Amir wearing a “Legalize cannabis” shirt or playing a practice match can be classified as hubris, or excessive pride. Wasn’t it ignorance and not arrogance that led him to act that way? Why one feels greater sadness about Amir’s fate is his incredible talent. He is a cocktail of youth, lethal pace and guile, the likes of which have not been seen in a generation. That being said, talent CANNOT be a mitigating factor in a sentence.
Check out this article for a well-articulated piece on the trial and its repercussions:
http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/499770.htmlRecommend
The wrong doers have been punished..Simple as that.Recommend
Well, I think the PCB handled the matter wisely. The board should not be criticized for trying to defend its players in the face of strong evidence of guilt. The allegations did not merely called into question the integrity of the players, but it adversely affected the reputation of the board too.
Considering that the players must have needed time to find a lawyer and then allow him some time to prepare their case, six months was not a long time.
“neither the ICC nor any National Cricket Federation shall publicly identify any Player or Player Support Personnel who has been alleged to have committed an offence under the Anti-Corruption Code until it has been determined in a hearing”
Yes, but in their case they were exposed by a journalist. It was not a case where the Anti Corruption personnel alleged an an offence and ICC, in violation of the rule, caused notice of the allegations to the public.Recommend
The author must get her facts right before righting such a article…PCS was always in touch with ECB but they did not heed to its advice. Also the Indian connection of Mazhar Majeed (who is a confirmed RAW agent) needs to be probed further as does the role of English players.Recommend
I disagree with the author, esp the point where she blames the “hubris” of Mohd. Amir, and it being the reason of him receiving no leniency in the verdict. Many 18 year old’s think a captioned T-shirt is uber cool (without knowing what it means and its implications), and it gets even more “cooler” if the particular fellow is from a small town. The other day, my dhobiwalla wore a (fake) fcu*k in LARGE print shirt, much to my amusement, when asked, he knew the swear word, but did not know the words on his shirt meant something else. Also, the match played in Rawalpindi, was for him, played for the love of the game. Recommend
A raw agent? YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.
Who on earth proved that? CONFIRMED my foot! He even owns a football club! don’t tell me its being run by RAW in england to taint english players? Get over your high pedestal, smell the flowers and understand that we committed a crime and we are going to pay for it. They got of lightly, surely they did. Ban them for life i say, small or big crime, the punishment for lieing and cheating your nation should be severe. What kind of stupid notion is that behind everything in our poor nations history is an indian, israeli or an american. Surely by now you should understand the difference between a conspiracy theory. No, you can’t, your all blinded by we are RIGHT and they are WRONG concept. We failed on all accounts. Amir can SOD off with his talents but if your a cheat, your a cheat. Wasim Akram can claim to hold many hattricks but he was a maligned character. Remember people like hanif muhammad! Who would fight to brink to prove their worth for their nation. The game is to be played for the GLORY of it, not for money. Sachin has proven it. Kallis is doing it. Ponting has done it. Lara lived for it. Grow up! greatness isn’t cheating and walking over your nation. Sad we make hero’s out of cheats. Recommend
why is icc helpless against Raina and co? Recommend
Mazhar Majeed, a RAW agent, thats the biggest Joke Ive heard in 2011. But on a serious note, people should spare a few moments and give a thought to the idea that Pakistani Cricket and Pakistani cricketers are being intentionally sabotaged. I know it might sound like me blurting out some conspiracy theory like millions of other Pakistani’s out there, but just look at some of the facts that tempt one to think otherwise:
A. Attack on the Sri Lankan team in 2009, at a time when so much media coverage and attention was given to a series as it would have been the deciding factor in whether Pak got to stage world cup matches. PCB intelligence failures happening at the same time, they unable to pick up a possible threat, unlike the past when they have provided A1 security to visiting teams in 2007 and 2008. The whole timing of the attack, feels like more than a coincidence.
B.Asia Cup 2008, which also included Sri Lanka India and Bangladesh, happened perfectly without a hitch, no players complained about anything on tour even. Even the South African tour of 2007-8 happened without a hitch.
C. Continous snubbing of Pakistani Cricketers from the lucrative t20 tournament the IPL for the third year in a Row. To me this does not feel like a coincidence, it feels like intentional marginalisation of Pakistani Cricketers. Even former english Captain Nasser Hussain wrote about this in a British newspaper, that one can’t blame the Pakistani players for succumbing to greed, as their living next door to multi-millionaires and they feel their missing out on riches due to a variety of reasons, from being paid peanuts, to missing lucrative sponserships to being snubbed from a major money making tournament.
D. It was obvious, that the News of the World probably acted on a tip they received from some one that the Pakistani players are potentially prone to corruption and they can be lured in. Let’s not forget it was the newspaper that Lured them and their agent Mazhar Majeed into this trap, and the news of the world has a controversial reputation for pulling off such manouvers against famous people just to make a prominent news breaking headline. Does any one remember what they did with Sara Ferguson, who is the ex daughter in law of the Queen of Great Britain? Recommend
Atika,
I appreciate that you have a different point of view to the whole situation, perhaps more inclusive than many others. I completely agree that things like these should be taken into context and it is not so great an achievement for any society to establish life ban on people who are oozing with talent. But then it also is reflection of what is happening in Pakistan as a whole, and for that just PCB cannot be blamed. What ICC has done is taken a stand atleast this time around. It gives a clear message to other sportsmen that you might be taken to task if you behave in this manner. So in a way the situation is justified.
RAW hand in maligning, or for that matter attack on Sri Lankan team sounds just like a streak of hope in some people. Their belief that everything is still alright nothing has gone wrong internally, its just a foreign agent, but unfortunately, its just too late to accept the level of internal decay.Recommend
@iButt:
If he is a ‘confirmed RAW agent’, why ask for probe again? In this episode many a Butt ended as a butt of a joke!Recommend
The players deserved for what they did! They were a disgrace to the whole nation, though I agree you on the point of ICC and PCB’s foolishness but still, you cannot tolerate such kind of behavior. And you should also not feel heart-broken, in the next 5 years who knows our nation will produce 5 new Amirs and Asifs!
Great read! :)Recommend
@Deen Sheikh:
On the point of IPL: You can not assume it to be a conspiracy. Pakistani players were involved in the first IPL. It was after Mumbai 2008 that the franchises were not sure that they would get good return if they invested in Pakistani players (Public feeling was against Pakistan at that time and still is on a large extent), there could have been issues regarding visa for them and PCB also denied to give them clearance to play initially (Later they changed there stand but it was too late by then). IPL is business and it is run on the basis of profit. Pakistani players sounded like bad investment (Business-wise and not from a sporting point of view) at that time and that is why they were not include. You have to remember that the major market for IPL is Indian audience (For that matter for all of the cricket). No conspiracy here. It is for Pakistan to decide that what is more important for them; to have their cricketers and other professionals profit from Indian markets or to protect the assorted murderers and terrorists of LeT, JeM, etc.Recommend
To my surprise and disappointment Pakistan didn’t take any legal action against these cheaters who not only brought a bad name to the country but clearly cheated us by preferring $$$ than country’s pride. I am sad how shamelessly they are giving interviews and criticizing ICC, their strict laws and decision and not a single word of regret or sorry which they owe to this nation and their country. And none of us is asking for any strict action against him. PCB should put heavy financial penalty (so that they should stop wandering in Porsche as seen in Doha) and BAN THEM FOR LIFE !! I am wishing them the max sentence (7 years + penalty) when they will be tried in UK for cheating and corruption on their land.Recommend
Dear Ms Atika
Either you are naive or acting as one, i guess, you have not landed in Pakistan yet. It is all bout Power and Might is Right, always. They will stop at the player only- have you ever seen a big-wig caught-for the matter take PCB as an example. Recommend
@amlendu:
If you read my point on the ipl properly, my point was that Pakistani cricketers have faced targetted discrimination and marginalisation, in the after math of Mumbai, which you have even mentioned in your point. I believe some pressure has been applied on ipl
Governing body, teams, sponsers, owners to sideline Pakistani cricketers due to their anti Pak views. I know India is the target
Market for the IPL but politics should not be mixed with sport, its socially irresponsible
And sends out the wrong message instead of promoting hatred, leaders should should try
And counteract hatred and promote empathy for
Sports players. The whole world hates Iran and North
koreA but does Fifa and OIC bar them from participating in football worldcup or olympics?
During the cold war, America allowed Soviet teams on their soil, the UK has always hosted Irish players during days of Ira bombings. Your
Lack of compassion and empathy it seems is due to the players being Pakistani it seems.
Politics and sport should be seperate.Recommend
Brilliant read! They are all to blame. The players, the ICC for their arbitrary “justice” and the ever ignorant PCB. I hope they read this…Recommend
@Deen Sheikh:
Good preaching, put yourself in our shoes and see the things right prespective. Its easy to preach but hard to practice. FIFA and other major sports are world events with sponsers from all over the world and there is a mixed governing body, while IPL is soley based on Indian sponsers and Indian money and India people’s emtions. This the exact reason why BBCI cannot and, rightly so should not stop Pakistan from playing the cricket WC on its soil, but as far as IPL goes, BBCI and IPL owners are within their rights to do as they wish. Based on your theory next time when your neighours burn your house you please invite them for a nice dinner.
I am not at all suggesting that what’s happenign in world cricket or for that matter with pakistani cricket is right or wrong, am only stressing that there are so many grey areas and we simply cant isolate to define things in plain black and white. There are direct and indirect consequencies for every action.
Thanks Recommend
Great article. The notorious three and the PCB are a reflection of the larger society where every angle is applied to get away with the most unethical / illegal conduct. In the end no one is held accountable. Could Pakistani leaders have done what the ICC did, if the scandal erupted inside their own country? They would evoke every conspiracy theory and mask the truth. What is surprising and encouraging is how much support there is within the public for the the ban. People want proper governance in sports and every day life.
A comment on IPL and Pakistan’s participation: why are you so obsessed with being acknowledged by India? Yet another point you have discovered in your ‘India has not accepted Pakistan’ narrative. This is silly. But irrespective of India’s logic of security, etc, etc, ignore them. Make your own PPL – dream big and do big things. Why can’t you? Recommend
@Deen Sheikh
Couldn’t agree with you more.. But, look at it from our side too.. Whenever we have opened up to Pakistan we get kicked. BJP of all parties started bus diplomacy in 99, but soon you gave us Kargil. Thawing of cold relations took place only by 2004 and it improved till 2008 when Mumbai happened, whatnot have we had to suffer because of you guys, from gun attacks to hijackings you have terrorised us. And please oh please, don’t bring the Kashmir issue, as a Kashmiri myself I have all the rights to live there. If the people don’t want us, too bad, they need to co-exist peacefully.
@others
We are talking about cricket here, keep it at that. I had to post a reply to Deen’s rant that for no fault of their own, Pakistanis are being discriminated. For god’s sake don’t turn it into a mud slinging match. Recommend
@Deen Sheikh:
You are right, politics and sport should not be mixed but get real IPL is no sports. It’s more of vulgar entertainment and big business.Recommend
To all you Indian
Lads out there, appreciate the feedback lads, this is a good
Opportunity fpr the bcci to act like a great socoally responsible organisation
And show that it is the leading cricketing board by putting an end to
Targetted discrimination. Even if its just a
Commercial venture with private
Stake holders, if anything they should
Help the pcb and pak cricketers by trying to bring an end to targetted
Marginalisation and re build relations with Pakistani cricket irrespective
Of whats happening politically. As far as who burns whose house doen, do u guys even realise
Mumbai scale terrorism is a daily plague on this side
Of
The border, thousands are dying due to
The same people, many here get killed here before terrorists flee the world. A little
Courtesy, compassion and
Empathy would go a long way for harmoney in the region.Recommend
You write well, want to read more of your columns.Recommend
The government should not involve itself in any kinds of sports, it should be in the hands of private enterprise.Recommend