Little sympathy in Pakistan for disgraced cricketers
"I've had this in my hand for a year and a half," said Naseem Akhtar, mother of 19-year-old Mohammad Amir, pointing to prayer beads in her hand.
"Children make mistakes. Amir became a big name in cricket, but he is still a child."
Other Pakistanis were not as forgiving, saying the fiasco has hurt the country, already tainted by widespread allegations of government corruption, where cricket is a way of life and to many an expression of national identity.
Cricketers Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif were found guilty on Tuesday of taking bribes to fix part of a test match against England in a case that prosecutors said revealed rampant corruption at the heart of international cricket.
Former captain Butt, 27, and opening bowlers Asif, 28, and Amir, who had admitted his part in the scam before the trial started, plotted to bowl deliberate no-balls at pre-arranged times during the Lord's test in August last year.
The men will be sentenced today, with Butt and Asif facing up to seven years in jail or large fines. The three players have already been banned from playing by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for a minimum of five years.
"I hope they are sent to jail as well, so that they become a symbol for the future cricketers. Corruption should not be tolerated anywhere and at any level, and I am very happy that justice has been done," said Adeel Azhar, a Pakistani radio host and cricket fan.
"Let's just hope now that our media does not look for conspiracy theories and start blaming Western or Indian cricket lobbies for all this, and thus making a hero out of these corrupt cricketers."
During the three-week trial in London, the jury heard how an undercover reporter recorded sports agent Mazhar Majeed, 36, boasting he could arrange for Pakistan players to rig games for money and how huge sums could be made for gambling syndicates.
In Amir's home village of Changa Bangyaal, a small collection of modest cement houses surrounded by wheat fields, some hoped he could one day redeem his image and bowl again.
"He has made a mistake. But we all pray he will come back and play for the country," Mohammad Shafeeq, a farmer who was leading a buffalo to his homestead.
Asfandyar Khan, a security guard, showed no mercy.
"These people make so much money and yet want more money through illegal means," he said.
"I am sure that there must be some other players involved too, but at least those who were caught have been punished."
Shahid Afridi wondered if Pakistan could ever recover from the scandal and said he hoped future generations of players could learn from the dark episode in Pakistani cricket.
"Our country, our cricket, has been disgraced. This is a lesson," he told reporters on Wednesday.
COMMENTS (21)
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Dear All, Why is it that when we get into trouble we all of a sudden become religious zealots, One should not worry about how old this moron was when he committed this crime, don’t… NOT for a single instance excuse him or others, 17 years old Kill people and go to jail for LIFE. This moron for his LUST of money (did not care how good he was, or he had a career) Killed the HONOR of Pakistan, This is Bigger than Cricket…It’s about PAKISTAN. All of these Felons should be tried for treason if they enter Pakistan and put in Jail for a very long time, quit being so FORGIVING...have the GUTS to conduct JUSTICE…once a criminal ALWAYS a criminal.
They have been bowled out from international and national cricket.PCB must take their share of the blame,
Ijaz Butt and his very incompetent team has caused Pakistan and the game irreparable damage, if there were justice in Pakistan, he would have been (should have been) the first person to serve time in prison....SUCH disgrace brought up on our country by one equally (or more) corrupt/ incompetent man and his team and what about ICC and their Anti-corruption unit?? Not a single case brought up, ever!! good job ICC, game's future looks very, very dark and this particular trial is not going to change anything.
If he has the right to vote then he can go to jail too...Being a 19 yr old is not an excuse....modesty is wat our cricketers lack and if it takes a jail term to induce it so be it.
Petty Issues wouldnt really matter if they are jailed or not as we as a nation have learned to compromise on everything. However, it certainly is a lesson for all those who are involved in corruption.
I hope this event marks the starting of an era whereby justice prevails and culprits are punished, jailed, hanged and fined. God please have mercy on Pakistan.
i am not here to defend these players. but some of these comments irk me. parents should have asked where the money is coming into the banak accounts. do u even know the socio-economic bacckground from which Amir comes? do you think the parents would even know what a freakin bank account is? the corruption of two no balls that he did, i can assure you at that age a lot of others could do it. I wish the PCB had educated these players but it's not the parents fault. no way.
PCB and our media channels didn't handle Amir,Asif and Butt case properly and now finally it become so much exploited. ICC probes that Suresh Raina has links with Bookies but Indian Cricket Board denied these charges and handle the situation quietly and there media didn't exploit. Where PCB and our Media channels are talking rubbish on this spot-fixing scandals. Shame on us.
A Child ? Come on, he has attained the voting age, Hasnt he?. If he is a child, did he take the parent's concurrence for this despicable act. Suitable punishment can only deter future crooks,
he was 17 at the time in question, which means he was a minor. I'm not at all condoning whatever he did; it was outrageous and a matter of deep shame for the entire country but we have to understand that he's still human. A 17 year old kid who experienced a drastic change in his life after playing for the national team. He was always going to be affected by peer pressure and influenced by other senior members of the team who set an example for him to follow. Everyone makes mistakes. So did Amir. Moreover, he payed for it with his 5 year ban. Cut him some slack, please.
Is hoarding money in Pakistan by Hook and Crook a cavaliers delict or is it a crime? Well we can sincerely admit, that it is an epidemic in Pakistan. There is such an enormous discrepancy between the destitute and disgustingly rich population of Pakistan.
Then is it so unnatural, that a talented village boy dreams to become a billionaire like most of our disgustingly newly wealthy country fellows? Our whole system from top till bottom is corrupt and teaches us, how to be perfect in committing crimes and become rich within days!!!!! The gora judges have very severely punished the young man, without considering such dark aspects of our society.
The irony is that these three are only small fry compared with the mega-fixers of yesteryear, former cricketing 'stars' who still act holier than thou.
According to official Qayum report it the vice of corruption is alleged to have begun in 1979-80 when the Pakistan Captain did not even bother to complete the toss...
Those interested in the 'great' names believed to have been guilty of fixing games should read the report which is available at : http://static.espncricinfo.com/db/NATIONAL/PAK/NEWS/qayyumreport/qayyum_report.html
And we thought we had found another Waseem Akram.... pity this youngster got corrupted at such and early age... this is a reflection of the Depth of Immorality and insincerity of our society, we are all looking to make a quick Buck with utter disregard of its Legality or otherwise.
These guys are traitors. In Pakistan its easy to have sympathy for them, but for us living abroad, its such a shame.
There are Million moms waiting for their sons to appear for once in National Team, Parents should ask kids what they have been upto and from where they are making money. he is smart enough to make money from bookies but not understand the price of whole nation and he will pay.
Ban them. Hanie Cronje was banned for life.
If his mother thinks he is still a child then she shouldn't have let him disgrace our country's name and play with the emotions of millions of fans. She should have sent him school to get some education and be mature. All of these are excusing when some one is caught red handed. You will not see them speaking this way when they are cheating and the world isn't informed of their deeds. Stop fooling the people any more 19 year old man is not a kid. He earns millions and was given preference over hundreds of other talented players just so that he can go on and play with the name of country. She had 19 years to teach him some manners and harness his judgement which are more than enough to separate good from bad. What ever they did was very well planned and thus they should be treated accordingly. I would say we must put them behind bars for taking bribe and selling the grace of country. Many hundred thousand have spilled their blood for this country which these cheaters are playing with.
I thought 19 year is an adult. Perhaps it takes more time in Changa Banyaal! Culprits!