The guilty verdict against Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif – and the guilty plea entered by Mohammad Amir prior to the start of the trial – may not have come as a huge surprise to many but with the criminal activity now stamped on the lives of the trio, the country’s cricket fraternity hopes for a lesson learnt.
Butt and Asif were handed guilty verdicts on charges of conspiracy to obtain or accept corrupt payments, and conspiracy to cheat. Amir, as reported immediately after the verdicts were read, pleaded guilty to all charges he faced.
The news, delivered on the 20th day of the hearing and after 16 hours of deliberation by the jury, came as a sad development for Pakistan cricket, but experts and former players remain optimistic about the future despite the agony since last August.
“The damage was already done,” former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Khalid Mehmood told The Express Tribune. “The scandal hurt us the day it was revealed and now, we’re undergoing rehabilitation. This saga should be taken as a blessing in disguise in order to clean up for the future. It’s a lesson for the current and future players.”
Mehmood, though, did question the credibility of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and its Anti-Corruption and Security Unit for handling corruption.
“This issue has also revealed flaws within the ICC. The corruption case is not closed and the ICC should venture out in other countries as well.”
Yawar Saeed, team manager on the tour the scandal broke out on, said that the verdict has tarnished the image of Pakistan cricket.
“I’m very sad,” he said. “I tried my best to keep them away from notorious people. They should have realised that but committed a huge blunder. When you do that, you ought to be punished.”
Meanwhile, former captain Zaheer Abbas termed it a sad revelation for cricket, adding that he was dejected with the trio’s involvement in crime and corruption.
“I feel very sad but this also gives a ray of hope because it would tell all cricketers what to avoid in the future. They should stay away from such acts and that will make the game cleaner.”
Another former captain Aamir Sohail lashed out at the PCB for its handling of the matter.
“The PCB failed to handle the matter properly. It should have played its role when the issue was revealed. They should have resolved the matter internally and should not have let the matter go to the ICC.”
He also blamed the board for not doing enough to cope with the menace.
However, former pacer Jalaluddin believed the spot-fixing case will help the Pakistan players to play with honesty and chose to view the proceedings as a good thing.
“It is a lesson for all our cricketers: by learning from the saga, the cricketers can ensure a clean future that will help in regaining lost reputation,” said Jalal before adding that corruption will continue due to lack of measures taken by the ICC.
“It was a special case where our players were trapped and that is unprecedented. There are no guarantees that this case will stop corruption because it is happening all over the world and needs flawless measures.”
PCB keeps mum
Despite the verdicts, the PCB decided against giving a statement.
“The PCB has already distanced itself from the players,” said a PCB official. “The damage has been caused and the board has taken preventive measures to cope with the menace. Our players are better educated now and our cricket is going in right direction. Hopefully such things will not happen in the future.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 2nd, 2011.
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