The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has introduced rigorous terms and conditions for all individuals who intend to act as agents for Pakistan cricketers in the aftermath of the spot-fixing fiasco and the alleged role played by UK-based agent Mazhar Majeed in it.
Learning a lesson from the disaster, the PCB has now made it mandatory for all agents to get themselves registered with it. The cricketers have also been issued a set of regulations that they need to comply with in order to be able to pursue a domestic and international career. Any player failing to comply with the guidelines issued will be ineligible to play domestic as well as international cricket. The effort forms a significant part of the ongoing measures that the board is taking in its fight against corruption.
The regulations are part of the International Cricket Council’s Playing Handbook, PCB’s constitution and the contracts that the cricketers have signed with the board.
Individuals intending to become registered agents are now required to obtain an application form from the PCB for a fee of Rs10,000 before paying non-refundable processing charges of Rs200,000. Aspiring agents also need to provide various character clearances, including presenting proof of not having been involved in criminal activities in Pakistan or where the applicant resides. The candidate also must not have bankruptcy proceedings against him.
Regulations also require agents to maintain financial reporting and declare all income generated through their contracts with the cricketers.
The spot-fixing saga resulted in three Pakistan cricketers facing various bans after acting improperly on the advice of their agent Mazhar Majeed who also represented several other Pakistan players.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 21st, 2011.
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