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Cricket chaos
The recent revelations about our “spot-fixing” cricketers have left the whole Pakistani nation shocked.
LAHORE: The recent revelations about our “spot-fixing” cricketers have left the whole Pakistani nation shocked, horrified, embarrassed and deeply humiliated. The correct course would be for the head of the PCB to immediately announce their suspension and recall those allegedly involved to face an open, independent and impartial enquiry to be followed by severe and exemplary punishment to the guilty and honourable reinstatement to the innocent. If necessary, the rest of the tour and all further international commitments should be cancelled until we have thoroughly investigated and eliminated this whole sordid business of match-fixing which has blighted our cricket for some 20 years now. It is not enough to keep chanting the mantra “these are only allegations.” Any person in any sort of public life the world over when faced with such serious charges of criminal activity or even mere impropriety is expected to step down until the allegations are proved or disproved. Not only would such a course send out an unequivocal message to all our sportsmen but put us on the moral high ground in the eyes of the world.
But we shall follow our usual course. Procrastinate and wait until further humiliation is heaped upon us by either the ICC suspending our players or worse still, other teams refusing to play us. Blame will be placed on the tabloids, our own media, a western conspiracy against Islam, an Indian RAW-orchestrated plot – in other words, we will blame everyone but ourselves. After sufficiently muddying the waters, the PCB will hold some sort of internal enquiry ‘in camera’, a few scapegoats will be made, to whom inconsequential sentences will be dealt out and then withdrawn in the subsequent weeks and months. Thereafter, it will be business as usual until the next scandal erupts and inflicts further disgrace upon our nation.
I am certain that all decent Pakistanis, would rather we slipped down to the bottom of cricket ratings and worked our way up again with a clean, upright and patriotic team than to dominate, and that too sporadically, through a bunch of crooks. But then, which government in Pakistan ever cared for what the majority of its citizens feel or ever chose the path of probity and integrity over short-term opportunism and self-deceit?
Mian Haroun Rashid
Published in The Express Tribune, September 1st, 2010.
Reader Comments (8)
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Cricket chaos (II)
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I agree with Mian Haroon, Ali Malik and others, who want the players against whom allegations have been made to be suspended from team inclusion, till such time their names are cleared. This should be done concurrently wirh ridding the PCB of senile elements like Yawar Saeed and controversial officials like Shafqat Rana, Wiqar Younus, Ejaz Ahmed and even Miandad. Mr Ijaz Butt has over played his innings and should quit, if he has any honor or self respect. If he refuses to do so, he should be sacked. Meanwhile the Patron must realize that he cannot afford to get his name tainted by continuing to back the presernt PCB. .Recommend
Cricket Chaos
I fully agree with the Mian Haroon Rashid’s view point that accused Pakistani cricketers should be brought back to Pakistan to have a probe into the matter. The presence of these players will also make the t20 and one-day series suspicious. The players who will be proven guilty must be punished to set an example and those who are proved innocent must be honorably brought back into the national cricket stream. This will not only give a clear message to our youth but will also improve the blurred and grimy image of Pakistan cricket. Moreover, this will create a sense of accountability in the Pakistani nation.
Usama Ather
Lahore CanttRecommend
I agree with Abrar that the whole PCB needs a thorough and wholesale cleansing. The PCB is being accused of having institutionalised corruption and I am afraid that the sordid history of corruption over the last 25 years makes it hard to refute. This cleansing process may take years and could well put us effectively out of international cricket for 12 to 18 months. But I, even as an ardent cricket fan and supporter of our team, would far rather see that than to have us constantly mired in such dirt. I can only hope that this latest scandal will make us realise that we have to now finally take a stand and not just keep sweeping all our dirt under the carpet the moment we are out of the immediate spotlight.Recommend
Before stepping ahead in criticism against our cricket players every one should follow the link given below ……Please.
http://worldocricket.wordpress.com/2010/08/30/hidden-facts-behind-fake-evidences-of-news-of-the-world/Recommend
I think that these players were involved in match fixing. I do not see othewrwise how things follow the way it was predicted, or agreed.Recommend
To Mr Riaz Alam Khan I say that if the News of the World (NOTW) simply hoaxed all these pictures and videos, why dont these cricketers and PCB sue them. There are strict laws against that sort of fraud and defamation in UK and the law is always implemented. Why did Salman Butt in his only press conference not say “I am innocent, these allegations are false and I will go to court against NOTW to prove my innocence.” Why doesnt he do it even now?? Simply repeating “these are only allegations” does not amount to refutation.
It gives me no pleasure at all to observe that the pathetic official response of PCB so far, step by step, the course predicted in my original letter.
When, for God’s sake, will we Pakistani’s stop deluding ourselves?!Recommend
To Mr. Mian Haroun Rasheed, for having a look on another possible aspect is not amounting deluding oneself. I am not defending any one.If you go to the address, i have given, u must have seen that bookie was wearing a blue T-shirt and when he gave that Jacket to the player he was in black T shirt although they alleged that met them right after receiving the money.
so my dear brother you are right too that if these were fake evidence, why they don’t sue them. but on the other hand if all the evidences are are so vivid and valid why they,player, have not been charged in the court of law yet..?Recommend
There is a simple answer to Mr Riaz Alam Khan’s question but I do not wish to comment any further. The events are playing out in front of us and we can all draw our own conclusions..Recommend