Amnesty not new to Pakistan: PCB official

Players encouraged to report approaches in education programme.

KARACHI: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) last week offered amnesty to its players until the end of April in return for reporting match-fixing approaches and other information linked to corruption in the sport.

However, the practice is not new to Pakistan cricket and the board applied a similar tactic in 2010 to encourage its cricketers to report activities related to corruption, according to a board official.

The official added that the practice was being followed under the board’s Education and Training Programme since late 2010. The programme was initiated after the International Cricket Council’s guidelines, issued in the aftermath of the spot-fixing scandal, which resulted in bans and prison sentences for Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir.

“The PCB programme encompasses similar stuff to what the ECB has launched,” the official, who is close to the programme, told The Express Tribune. “The local players are constantly reminded and encouraged to report approaches. Our national cricketers also receive the same advice before they take part in any international series. The players get assurance that the information will be kept secret and they will get all possible support if they share the information even if it is delayed.”

‘Education programme has been a success’

The official refused to reveal whether approaches have been reported by any player but said that the lack of controversies since the programme was initiated was a sign of its success.

“We have avoided controversies since the start of this programme. It proves that it’s been yielding results. It is also helping change the players’ mindset, as they are now aware of the dangers of corruption.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 18^th, 2012.